Wayne YMCA Sale Still Not Finalized; Mayor Expects It Will Be Soon

WAYNE, NJ — Though the Wayne Township Community Center has moved into 1 Pike Drive, the building is not technically township property quite yet as the sale is not officially closed.

The Metro YMCA of the Oranges had been operating the building since 2011, but does not own it outright —the Young Mens and Young Womens Hebrew Association (YM-YWHA) of North Jersey does. When the Y executed their right to purchase the property this year, Wayne officials began considering buying it for the community center.

Wayne Township is operating the building as a tenant at no cost while the Metro Y of the Oranges and the YM-YWHA finalize the sale, as TAPinto Wayne reported.

On Friday, Mayor Chris Vergano told Patch that he expects the building sale to be closed by the end of the month, as the two entities have reportedly come to an agreement.

In August, the township approved a $12.2 million sale agreement for the property and facilities, which was negotiated with the Metro YMCA of the Oranges. The township community center officially opened to the public on Monday, Nov. 4, and is being run by the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Vergano said things have been going well since the township took over the facility, and said more than 1,000 members have signed up.

"New programs along with our current schedule will be added in January," he said.

Patch has reached out the YM-YWHA for further comment on the sale process.