Members trying to save worlds first YMCA from closing for good [Video]

By Isobel Williams via SWNS

The world’s first YMCA is to close in the New Year after being sold to a developer of luxury flats and hotels.

Central YMCA, which originally opened in 1911, is now central London’s largest gym which also provides health and education programs to the local community.

The 116,000 sq ft building on Great Russell Street has now been sold to Criterion Capital and will shut in February 2025.

The YMCA has disposed of the site because of demographic changes, the age of the building and soaring maintenance costs.

But members say the loss will be a blow to the local community and fear the building will ‘just become another hotel’.

Josh Von Uexkull, 28, has now set up a Change.org petition to stop the closure, which has soared in popularity with over 4,800 signatures.

The artist, from Camden, has been a member at the center since he was three years …