The YMCA of Southeastern North Carolina currently has $8.1 million of the $9.8 million goal it had set to renovate its location at 2710 Market St., according to a press release.
 
The $8.1 million is made up of $2.8 million from insurance and $5.3 million from community support after a fire in 2015, according to the YMCA website. 
 
President and CEO Dick Jones said the community support includes donations from individuals, companies and foundations. The Bruce B. Cameron Foundation partnered with the YMCA to raise more funds by matching donations of $5,000 or higher.
 
In a 2016, the YMCA announced that it had received a $2 million donation from Oaz Nir, the son of longtime YMCA Healthy Living Director Dalia Nir. The new building will be named Nir Family YMCA in recognition of the family donation.
 
Jones said there is still a lot of work going on in the project because the entire facility is being changed.

“The original building was built in the 60s and the design back then is different than the design of YMCAs today,” he said. “There will be a lot more light and open spaces.”
 
In the press release, the YMCA announced it will host a Community Vision Tour starting at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 24, where members, donors, staff and the community are invited to see the progress in the new location.
 
The event features a self-guided tour where people can learn more about the facility and sign their names on the new building.
 
Jones said people will also get to see the new family pool, which is scheduled to open late this summer, and the new youth wing, where kids can be dropped off for preschool, afterschool and summer camp programs.
 
Jones said one key feature of the new building is that it will have more space for programs.

“The older facility was not as efficient,” he said. “We were able to use 85 percent of the area for programs, now we will be able to use 90 percent, so it is a much more efficient use of space.”
 
He said the new location is scheduled to open in December, and that he hopes the new location meets the needs of the community.
 
“It certainly will be a gathering spot for the community and continue to help us serve families in the greater Wilmington area and it will also enable us to provide new and different programs and services,” he said.