Children's museum, other ideas voiced for old YMCA

BELLEVILLE -- Members of the committee set up to determine what to do with the old downtown YMCA building tossed around ideas Wednesday submitted by Belleville residents.

Geri Boyer, a downtown resident and partner at a downtown business, Kaskaskia Engineering Group, said one resident, Roger Tegtmeyer, had proposed a Trader Joe's grocery store or other environmentally friendly product store.

Several people at the meeting raised concerns about limited parking at the site. City Treasurer Jerry Turner suggested deciding whether something is otherwise feasible before worrying too much about parking.

Conni Tilley, who owns downtown's Catch a Rising Star School Uniforms, had submitted her idea for a "green" children's museum, which would be environmentally friendly in design and teach children about energy efficiency and environmental conservation.

Her proposal includes a one-time $500,000 grant from the city.

Phillip Paeltz, headmaster of Governor French Academy, president of the Belleville Main Street Association board, and a member of the YMCA committee, said he received several calls from residents interested in something comparable to the City Museum in St. Louis, which is composed of exhibits using recycled materials and meant to be physically explored. Paeltz said an artist started that museum.

"We need to find an eccentric genius willing to do that," Paeltz said.

City Treasurer Jerry Turner reminded the committee that the city's sales tax revenue is down 8 percent from what was projected, mostly due to down auto sales.

But he added that he would love to see a destination restaurant, something that would draw people from all over to Belleville. He cited the examples of the Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery in Kimmswick, Mo., or Josephine's Tea Room and Gifts in Godfrey.

The YMCA building at 15 N. First St. was built in 1923 and housed the YMCA from 1959 until May 2006, when the YMCA of Southwest Illinois gave the property to the city when it moved to its new downtown site on South Illinois Street. It has been vacant since. The city owns it. It's plagued with poor air quality and would cost $500,000 to tear down.

Those interested in contributing ideas can find instructions at http://social.savetheoldymca.org.