THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 31, 1994 TAG: 9407290267
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LARRY W. BROWN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
Thanks to a gift of land by an old Hilltop family, area residents will soon have a new YMCA.
Development of the new center was made possible after the Potter family donated two acres of land near the Hilltop East Shopping Center on Laskin Road.
``We're really excited about bringing the Y to the Hilltop community,'' said YMCA Chief Executive Officer Charles Harris. ``It's just a great spot.''
Developers broke ground on the 15,000-square-foot center Thursday. The Hilltop YMCA, which will be the eighth in South Hampton Roads, will be a full service facility with a complete health and fitness center, indoor swimming pool, space for teen programs, locker rooms and child-care center. It is scheduled to open in mid-January.
``I think it's designed to meet the needs of families,'' Harris said. ``It's fairly medium-sized compared to Mount Trashmore, which is about 40,000 (square feet). We see this a part of linkage of Y's in Virginia Beach and South Hampton Roads area.''
YMCA Financial Development Officer Rusty Youmans said the YMCA conducted a survey to determine what the community wanted in the center.
``We know there's a need for child care, swimming lessons and for programs for teens,'' said Youmans, who expects 1,100 families and individuals to join the center.
Harris said other area members will be able to use the Hilltop facilities.
``We think the community is going to be very pleased and very happy,'' Harris said. ``The beach is a very good supporter of the YMCA.''
There is an ongoing community effort to raise money for the construction, which is scheduled to begin in a few days. Youmans said the organization has raised a little more than half the $1.25 million goal, and seeks more contributions.
``We feel really good that we've come this far,'' Youmans said. ``I am very encouraged by the community support for this project.''
The Potter family, who gave Hilltop its name and developed the Hilltop Shopping Center, has been active in the community for decades. Harris said the Potters approached the YMCA about the land.
``They're deeply rooted in the Beach community and wanted to return to the community a gift of this type,'' Harris said. ``They have a strong philanthropic motive.''
Walter Potter said his family wanted to help establish something from which the community could benefit.
``The Y will be here when we're gone and that's something we feel good about,'' he said. ``We all grew up here and this is the opportunity to give something back.''
Along with Walter Potter, many of the 150 descendants of 92-year-old Lucille Brock Potter joined her at the groundbreaking.
``We're very happy everything's going so smoothly,'' Mrs. Potter said. ``It's a nice crowd and we're glad it didn't rain.''
According to Brock Potter: ``We've been blessed by the community over the years. The YMCA is family-oriented and has Christian values. It will be an asset to the whole area. It's just one more thing to make Hilltop one of the best places in all of Tidewater.''
J.R. Potter, who was one of the key decision-makers in the land donation, explained, ``By doing this, it doesn't go to the rich, the poor, black or white. It goes to everyone.'' ILLUSTRATION: Drawing
An architect's rendering by Walker Woodward Architects, P.C., shows
the Hilltop YMCA next to Hilltop East Shopping Center.
by CNB