In a month that has already seen tremendous growth in the amount of affordable apartment space available to Cincinnati seniors, we have another exciting announcement to make.

As part of a $29 million renovation, 65 brand new Affordable Living by ERS senior apartments are being constructed on the top six floors of the historic YMCA building at Elm Street and Central Parkway in downtown Cincinnati. Seniors 55 and older with limited incomes may apply here to live in the community, called Central Parkway Place.

The Central Parkway Place project, managed by 3CDC, the Model Group and Episcopal Retirement Services (ERS), is expected to be finished next month. A ribbon-cutting for the apartments will be held in August.

On Wednesday, July 20, leaders of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the reopening of the Central Parkway YMCA. The YMCA and its development partners are completing an overhaul of the 99-year-old building at 1105 Elm St. that will bring a renovated wellness center to the basement and first three floors as well as the senior apartments to the top six floors.

Not an old building — an adaptable space

The YMCA building on Central Parkway has quite a storied history. Its cornerstone was laid in 1917 — for reference, the same year the United States entered World War I — by native Cincinnatian and former President William Howard Taft.

At the time it was built, the downtown YMCA was one of the largest buildings in Over-the-Rhine. It remains so today. And it’s a shining example of the irreplaceable early-century Renaissance Revival architecture that has recently lured several high-profile Hollywood productions to film in the Tristate.

Over the past decade, when it became clear that the building was no longer able to meet all of the YMCA’s needs, there was little question that it would be renovated instead of demolished — you don’t throw something away just because it’s old! But the group of partners tasked with redeveloping the space had a lot of work to do.

Adapting the space and bringing it up to modern code was a labor of love

First, the building’s plumbing system had to be completely replaced. So too did the heating and cooling systems.

In addition to construction of the 65 new senior living apartments that ERS will manage, the two-floor gymnasium space had to be refurbished. Outdated fluorescent lighting gave way to increased natural lighting.

The gym was equipped with new cardio and strength training machines. The locker room lounges were outfitted with 50-inch high-definition flat screen televisions. Group fitness rooms, a cycling studio and a welcome center were added.

The three-lane indoor swimming pool was renovated. And so was the space for the Y’s three racquetball and handball courts.

Lastly, the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati needed the third floor to be adapted to serve as the organization’s regional office. All the Y’s local administrative offices will be consolidated into the downtown location.

All these changes were made with the goal of securing the building’s future for decades to come. As a mixed-use, efficient redevelopment, the YMCA building on Central Parkway holds the promise of serving not only seniors’ needs for affordable housing downtown, but also the neighborhood’s need for an anchoring community health space.

Interested in living in our newest Affordable Living by ERS community?

Applications for residency at Central Parkway Place will be accepted beginning this Wednesday, July 20 at 9 a.m. through Thursday, July 21 at 3 p.m. Applicants must qualify for the age and income restrictions. Applicants must be age 55 or older and their annual income must be no greater than $24,750 for an individual or $28,300 for a couple.

Click here to find the rental application. This is an online only application. Residents begin moving in in August.

Central Parkway Place will provide a clean, vibrant, secure and welcoming environment for older adults with limited incomes. Like all the affordable living communities operated by Episcopal Retirement Services, Central Parkway Place will be a non-smoking community.

For more information about qualifying to rent an apartment at our newest community, Central Parkway Place, please call 513-527-6453. For information about any of our other Affordable Living by ERS senior apartment communities throughout the Tristate, please call 513-979-2251.

Seniors in Cincinnati deserve affordable, safe opportunities for independent living. We make it our highest priority to develop new spaces to provide those opportunities. We’re tremendously happy to be a part of the team that has brought both new life to the downtown YMCA, and more enriched living for Cincinnati seniors of limited means.