FLINT, Mich. — At 6 a.m., the parking lot at Flint’s Third Street YMCA is already full as senior citizens gather for lap swimming. As morning gives way to afternoon, a younger crowd—earphone-clad and focused—arrives for individual workouts and group fitness classes.
For more than 60 years, the Third Street Y has served as a community hub for fitness and connection. On April 28, 2025, it will open a new 50,000-square-foot downtown facility with expanded programs and improved accessibility.
Located at the corner of Third and Harrison streets, the new facility is a modern, mixed-use development that combines residential units with wellness services. It will feature a six-lane pool, a splash pad, fitness studios and an indoor walking track—amenities chosen through community surveys, focus groups and interviews.
“This building will be a location for the YMCA of Greater Flint to positively impact individual health, create a space for social connection, facilitate lifesaving programs like safety around water, and provide high-quality programming for kids during out-of-school time,” said CEO Shelly Hilton in an emailed statement on March 20, 2025.
The development is part of the LiveWell on Harrison project, a collaborative effort that includes 50 residential apartments, a Hurley Physical Therapy Clinic and the Crim Fitness Foundation.
“The mission of the Crim Fitness Foundation and the YMCA naturally align which makes the partnership strong,” Hilton said. “The Y and the Crim are excited to collaborate on youth programming as well as adult wellness as we become neighbors.”
Through the partnership with Hurley Medical Center, community members who complete physical therapy at the on-site clinic will receive a 30-day YMCA membership to continue their progress.
The new facility’s design improves accessibility, with fewer thresholds and doorways leading to cardio and weight training areas, the gymnasium and a zero-entry indoor track. It will also feature a universal locker room with individual changing spaces, alongside separate men’s and women’s locker rooms, to better accommodate families.
The YMCA portion of the project costs $21 million, funded by donors such as the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Kyle Kuzma Foundation, and the YMCA of Greater Flint Foundation. The total development cost, including the apartments and clinic, is estimated to be nearly $41 million.
YMCA Flint and Uptown Reinvestment Corp. are partnering on the project, with Uptown managing the apartments. Leasing details will be available in late fall 2024. To receive updates, call 810-238-5555 or email leasing@uptownflint.org.