An institution that has provided safe haven and opportunity for generations will begin a new life as a gateway and key landmark in the transformed St. Paul’s neighborhood in downtown Norfolk.
Founded in 1875, the William A. Hunton YMCA will build on its 150-year legacy of uplifting the community by expanding its role in a new facility. This space will offer enhanced opportunities and resources for its core missions: early childhood education, civic and social meeting spaces, and programs that teach life skills, health and wellness, and more—serving everyone from children to great-great-grandparents.
The facility will be an aspirational resource for residents of St. Paul’s, a neighborhood that now includes a diverse mix of housing: one-third replacement units, one-third income-based units, and one-third market-rate units. The transformed St. Paul’s replaces one of the oldest and largest public housing communities in the United States—one with a historically high concentration of poverty.
The Hunton Y is one of four Heritage YMCAs in the United States, established when People of Color were denied access to other YMCAs. It is also the oldest independent YMCA in the country. Over the years, it has remained a vital resource, offering services beyond fitness—providing education, safety, and security for those in need.
Highlights of the new facility include dedicated areas for upper and lower schools, a library, a full-size gymnasium, a kitchen and cafetorium, reception and administrative offices, health service facilities, spaces for seniors and civic gatherings, two-story porches, and an outdoor swimming pool. A private courtyard will embrace an arbor of mature trees, and the site will be integrated into the 26-acre Blue Greenway resilience park, designed to protect the neighborhood from flooding.
Hunton staff—some of whom have served for more than 25 years—and board members participated in design charrettes to shape the new Y, prioritizing both needs and aspirations. The City of Norfolk has earmarked $6.5 million for the facility and granted Hunton the deed to the land. Construction is expected to begin in 2025, with completion in 2026.
