218 Morgan St. / YMCA

The buildings at 224-226 West Morgan St. were built sometime between 1913 and 1937, replacing earlier tobacco prizery buildings. 226 West Morgan was a plumbing supply wholesaler in 1937 - the use of 224 is not noted.

The buildings were essentially unchanged in 1966.

226 West Morgan St. looking northeast from Morgan and Foster.

224 West Morgan St. looking northwest from Morgan and Holland.

These buildings were torn down before 1970 by the urban renewal program. The lots sat vacant, it appears, until the late 1990s, when the YMCA returned to downtown. It continues to operate its downtown branch at this location.

I find it a bit unfortunate that the Y completely eschews the Morgan St. facade/entrance, but at least the option is there. The building is too short on Morgan St., though - particularly given the street width. A minimum two-story height would have given the street some needed additional definition.