Next building renovations work set to start

By Grace Lovins

Renovations to the former YMCA building located at 400 E. Lincoln in Birmingham are one step closer to becoming reality after the city commission approved a design/build agreement with DMC Group during the Monday, August 24, meeting.

The city put out a request for proposals in July, according to assistant city manager Mark Clemence, for renovations to the first floor of the building at 400 E Lincoln. The building is intended to serve as the new home for Next senior services when the group’s lease with Birmingham Public Schools comes to an end in May 2027.

Clemence said four companies submitted proposals and an internal committee narrowed down the submissions to ultimately recommend DMC Group for the project. Headquartered in Detroit, DMC Group specializes in construction, consulting, demolition, and environmental remediation, per their website. Their notable projects include the Mt. Elliot Senior Center for the city of Detroit, the Detroit Police Department training academy, and the Detroit Police Athletic League Recreation Center renovations. 


Don Rogers, who sat on the internal review committee and previously was a member of the ad hoc senior and community center committee, said that the committee felt DMC’s previous experience with renovating older facilities was key as other firms had more experience with new buildings.

“I was particularly impressed with DMC’s approach, in particular on the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection…those portions of the design,” Rogers said. “I feel like Yash [Chaudhary] and his team have put a lot of time and effort into planning this out and to deliver it.”

The renovations will pick up where previous design work by Neumann Smith Architects left off. Those designs were previously approved by the commission in May. Commissioners told the firm that the intention was to stick with as much of the floor plan designed by Neumann Smith as possible.

Commissioners ended their discussions with a 4-2 vote in favor of approving the design/build agreement, with commissioners Brad Host and Bill Kolb voting against the motion.

Kolb did not explain why he was not in favor of the agreement, but Host reiterated points he had brought up throughout the process of figuring out what to do with the building. He said he would not support the plans since they did not included an elevator and moving forward now meant the city could be missing an opportunity to maximize the best use of both the E. Lincoln building and the newly acquired Community House property.