Y CedarCreek?

SOUTH TOLEDO - South Toledo residents are still reeling over the news that they will be losing their neighborhood YMCA.

But who might be moving in, has caused even more concern.

CedarCreek Church brings thousands of people to its services. That means a lot of traffic and the need for extra parking at the South Y location.

Some South End neighbors near the building are worried this possible new tenant could ruin parts of Woodland Park and the atmosphere of other areas.

"Honestly, I don't think they should touch anything," said Katie Buzdor, a South End resident. "If that's the building they want, if they don't think that's a big enough parking lot, they need to find another facility. They shouldn't touch anything else."

Buzdor is also concerned that Sunday baseball games would conflict with Sunday services in terms of parking.

Pastor Lee Powell of CedarCreek Church understands citizen concerns, but he assures the church is listening and already accommodating plans.

"We're going to make a proposal that doesn't use a blade of park property, where it just really converts the Y property into parking," he said.

Pastor Powell said his church is working with city administrators to look at their zoning options with the former YMCA land for creative ways to solve the parking problem.

As for the increased traffic, Powell believes it would only be in 20-minute increments - twice on Saturdays and three times on Sundays.

"We'll have police out there directing traffic on their way out," Pastor Powell said. "The zoo has hosted several functions here where they've filled this parking lot up and it's never been a problem."

Pastor Powell also said the YMCA gave them the building to carry on a Christian tradition in that facility. He says his church organization would do that and would even continue community service, like child-care and pre-school, with the Y's staff as support.

Many neighbors said Wednesday evening they like that idea, and welcome CedarCreek to the alternative.

"The building (will) sit and collect dust, and it will be vandalized. It'll become a blight on the community," Powell said.

The pastor and citizens agree that a situation like that, would not be good for the community.

CedarCreek is working on a new site plan to present to the city on Aug. 3. Once they receive word from the Finkbeiner administration, the church plans on having a community forum.