YWCA Week

I've seen some excellent postings about the Julia Morgan YWCA. Today I'd like to direct your attention to my favorite: Pasadena Adjacent's beautiful post and video. You will not be disappointed.

Thanks for joining me during Julia Morgan YWCA Week!

Urbex

I'm not trying to preach to you about the Julia Morgan YWCA (like I do about Hahamongna). I'm sure lessons can be learned from this building and its history, but I'm posting about it this week because I like the photos I took there.

I would be into urban exploration if I wasn't terrified of being caught and arrested, or even just embarrassed. UE is a sport for kids in athletic shoes and baggy pants--grown women aren't supposed to crawl around in abandoned buildings.

But I have some baggy pants. I wear athletic shoes (I have to, or else my feet hurt). And I love exploring the places society has left behind.

Not that this place will be abandoned forever. I'm glad Pasadena's reclaiming it. (Look what I found over at PasadenaDigitalHistory.com.)

It was fun taking pictures where the ghosts linger. I didn't have to sneak, I wasn't afraid of getting caught and I got to wear my grown-up pants.

Plans for the YWCA

I believe I promised more photos of the Julia Morgan YWCA.

I noodled around the web looking for information about Morgan and about the building itself. Morgan, the first female architect licensed in the state of California, created many iconic buildings (Hearst Castle is the most famous), including several YWCAs. One is in O'ahu. I found this quote on their website:

"When Morgan closed her office in 1951, at the age of 79, she had her files, blueprints and drawings destroyed because she thought they would be of interest only to her clients who already had their own copies of relevant material."

I thought that was kind of interesting.

Here's an index of Morgan's work;
A link to some photos of the exterior of the Y;
An article by Joe Piasecki in the Pasadena Star-News about how much the renovation might cost, who might do the renovating, and how the building may or may not be used.

I haven't decided what I want the building to become, have you? There's a YMCA across the street but seeing as developer money might be involved, I suppose a YWCA is too much to ask for. But it might be nice to have some chaise lounges along the hallway downstairs and a buffet in one of the large corner rooms. I would adore a garden in the courtyard, where perhaps one could get a foot rub. Most of all, though, I want an office upstairs, with a secretary provided in an office adjacent to mine. I think I'd like to be on the third floor with my window overlooking Holly Street, but don't hold me to that. Let's wait and see what I'll have to choose from.

Oh and room service! There should be room service. And, um...toga-clad waiters.

Those are my ideas. Let's hear yours.

Julia Morgan YWCA

Julia Morgan was the first female architect licensed in the state of California. She's famous for creating Hearst Castle at San Simeon. She also designed the YWCA building across the street from Pasadena's City Hall. You know the place--it's been boarded up for years, sliding into ruin.

A couple of years ago, Pasadena's City Council voted to exercise its powers of eminent domain and take possession of the building. I think that was a smart move. The building obviously needed protection and its owner wasn't lifting one single, proverbial finger to care for it.

I'll post more pictures next week. In the meantime, there's another opportunity for you to see inside the Julia Morgan YWCA Saturday morning (tomorrow), from 9-10 am. Enter at 78 N. Marengo Avenue and the docents of Pasadena Heritage will be there to answer your questions and keep you from stepping into any holes. After your tour, stop by City Council chambers from 10:15-11:30 for a presentation and comments.

Neglect takes a toll. Years of doing nothing are going to cost. I admit, though, I find great beauty in ruins.