Sub-basement flooding left extensive damage

On a typical day at the Roxbury YMCA, a communal culture is on full display. Staff members greet every visitor with a warm welcome as soon as they walk in. Children in summer enrichment programs practice literacy skills. Members of the aquatics team swim in the pool.

But the past month has been a host of abnormal days at 285 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The site has been closed since a water leak flooded its sub-basement, and as a result, locals aren’t coming in to do quick workouts in the gym during their lunch breaks. Volunteers from various community organizations aren’t sharing resources with Y members.

“We are not [permanently] closed,” said Winston Bodrick, executive director of the Roxbury Y.

“We are temporarily closed and we will open, soon. That is our top priority for our organization.”

The water leak and building closure happened overnight on June 25 and damaged the building’s electrical and mechanical systems. Bodrick said his team learned of the flood that morning and responded quickly to shut off and safely drain water from the building.

The closure has forced all programming to move to other sites across Greater Boston, including Dorchester, Huntington and even Waltham. Included in Y memberships are access to Y locations all over the region and across the country, which Bodrick encouraged people to use.

Roxbury Y leaders are working with city inspectors and dozens of contractors to replace boilers, pool systems, electrical equipment and HVAC systems in the building, all of which are in the sub-basement. The work, requiring equipment assessments and approval through regulatory departments, is complex and could be costly.

“The Y is responding swiftly and covering expenses to get the building opened as soon as possible for the community and working with their insurance provider to determine coverage for expenses,” said Matt Wilder, a spokesperson for the YMCA of Greater Boston.

“They expect repairs will surpass $1 million.”

The YMCA of Greater Boston previously spent $1.2 million in a six-year period to address maintenance concerns and other issues at the Roxbury Y, WBZ Newsradio reported in October 2024. Some improvements included new flooring and accessibility features to the facility’s welcome center.

Crews haven’t stopped working since the building shut down in June, Bodrick said. The mobilization of the Roxbury Y’s risk and facilities teams and senior leadership of the YMCA of Greater Boston is something he said he appreciates deeply, especially given the unprecedented circumstances.

“Having these support systems in place allows you to navigate these types of terrains, and subject matter expertise actually comes into play in these moments,” Bodrick said. “I’m truly thankful and blessed to have such a supportive association and colleagues.”

It’s unclear when repairs will wrap up and the building can reopen. Leaders hope to have a phased reopening, where early education and summer camp programming could be the first to return, but could not provide the Banner any concrete timelines.

Bodrick said he understands the role the Y plays in the community and thanks members for their patience.

“We feel the urgency, too,” Bodrick said. “We are urgently trying to work as quickly as possible to get the building back open. … This is a temporary setback for a permanent institution.”