BOONE, Iowa—Mayor Elijah Stines and the new owners of the vacant YMCA building see its rehabilitation as an opportunity to complement proposed plans for a publicly owned wellness center while acknowledging the need for a substantial private investment to bring it back to usable condition.

Stines praised Evan and Emilee Jorgensen for purchasing the building at Sixth and Carroll streets.

“Because of our stewardship of taxpayer dollars, the city council, staff and I are sensitive to the risks and the level of repairs and renovations needed. That’s why I admire the willingness of entrepreneurs like the Jorgensens to take on a project of this magnitude,” Stines said. “They’re investing in our community’s economic future and quality of life.”

The project represents a new chapter for the couple, who have residential real estate holdings in Ames and are moving their family to Boone later this year. The building caught their attention last May , but it was under contract with another group. They put in an offer for the building when the previous agreement failed to close.

Evan and Emilee Jorgensen, who earned their bachelor’s degrees from Iowa State University and master’s in business administration degrees from the University of Iowa, see a “bright future” for the facility while acknowledging its rehabilitation won’t happen overnight.

The Jorgensen’s’ assessment of the building and its expansive needs began with a review of a previous engineering report and a re-use plan. Those studies highlighted requirements to make the building compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Emilee Jorgensen said the negotiated purchase price made it feasible to move forward this year with Phase I work on the building such needs as a modern heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system.

Evan Jorgensen said they may also seek sponsorships – including those who are interested in naming rights for the pool, basketball court or other parts of the facility – to expedite the project. “That will come into play when we start working on the overall budget,” he added. “The work can all get done in time, but it will be accelerated if we have more people involved.”

In noting the complementary nature of a proposed city wellness center, Evan Jorgensen mentioned the long-empty pool that will require costly repairs and ongoing upkeep. “We’ve not ruled out the pool. As things stand, it will just happen in a later phase. It could be, as the city gets farther along with its plans, that we might not need to do it,” he explained.

Emilee Jorgensen said, “This is not an either-or situation with (a city wellness center). It will meet different needs.”

For any questions or feedback regarding the 608 Carroll Street project, the Jorgensens can be reached at hello@booneflex.com.

(contributed press release, City of Boone)