Allegheny YMCA

Blink and you might miss it. This YMCA location is nestled just across the street from Allegheny Commons Park West, and is also part of a residential building because it’s a «full mission», as another Unilocaler has pointed out. Save for the charming neon sign jutting out from the corner, you probably wouldn’t know it’s there. I’ve started visiting this location on the regular since I stopped being a chump paying an arm and a leg for a downtown parking lease and started parking on the North Shore and T’ing it in. But I digress. Parking in these old Pittsburgh neighborhoods can be a pain, but I’ve always found street parking right along North Ave on either side of the street. It’s a busy through-​way, but it’s wide.
I should mention that if you have trouble negotiating stairs, this might not be the best gym for you. The building is old, and who knows if and how it’s up to ADA code, because you must traverse up some steps to get up to the sign-​in counter, and then back down to access the locker rooms, weight room, and pool. You will also need to be buzzed into said locker rooms, which generally isn’t a problem, as the front desk staff are pretty responsive. The women’s locker room, by the way, in addition to smelling like lovely eucalyptus and mint, is small-​ish. There are only 2 stalls, and I’ve not used the showers myself, so I cannot attest to how many of those there are, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was 2 or 3 either. There are two benches with about a dozen or so lockers on both sides.
I primarily lift weights and use the elliptical at this YMCA, so I cannot comment on the group activities or open gym.
The aforementioned weight room is pretty tight in space, but I’ve never seen it crowded. Finding a spot to do floor work for abs is a challenge, so I generally avoid doing it there. There are plenty of free weights, and enough room to comfortably fit three people across facing the mirrors. I cannot comment much on the weight stations since I stick to free weights myself, but it seems like there’s plenty to go around for upper/​lower body, and folks seem courteous enough about giving others time and space to use them. It is also rather advantageous to have the weight room down in the lower level, because it stays relatively cool, even in humid Pittsburgh summers.
Cardio machines are upstairs on the same level as the front desk. There are about 4 or 5 traditional elliptical machines, another bank of the newer «gazelle-​like» kind (not sure what they’re called, but that’s the best way I can describe them), a few stretching stations, maybe 5 or 6 treadmills, and about the same number of bikes. All are equipped with tv screens. They do stay fairly busy during the after-​work period, but I’ve not had to wait for one to open up myself. I also haven’t seen any out of order, which is much appreciated in a smaller gym. I believe there is an open gym on this level just through the cardio room, but I’ve not been in it myself, so I can’t comment on its size or condition.
Overall, I’ve come to like this YMCA spot quite a bit. It may not be as fancy as the PNC YMCA in the heart of downtown, or as spacious as my other haunt, the Baierl Family YMCA in New Sewickley/​Wexford, but because of where it is situated in a residential area and it being a smaller location, I think this Y has a unique local color about it. The staff and other gym-​goers are friendly, and the latter seem to come from all walks of life, which keeps it interesting… in a good way. :-)

Four stars — not because the facility itself is stellar, it certainly needs updates and could use more space — but the staff was so friendly and helpful! The atmosphere was inviting and communal, really nice to see a Y that is still a full mission where men can stay and get on their feet. And art classes! And dodgeball! And I had a great workout in the gym.

I’m still giving this Y five stars because I like the other patrons and the atmosphere so much; I just want to re-​evaluate the place now that I’ve gotten way better at various activities.
The cardio room is still really, really good. I’ve never had to wait for a machine, and the machines are quite nice and new still.
The weightlifting room is also totally adequate, with pretty much a full complement of machines (older, but still serviceable), and a good assortment of free weights and related paraphernalia, including a Smith machine and a regular good ol’ power cage. There isn’t any platform for Olympic lifts, and I haven’t seen anyone in here perform them (there isn’t a lot of room, so I’m not really sure how one would even go about powerlifting safely in this gym.) However, there is a bucket of chalk in one corner. Go figure.
The pool is fine if you aren’t really hardcore into swimming. If swimming is a major form of exercise for you, however, it might not be the best pool for your needs. It’s a four-​lane pool, I think 25 yards long. It is heavily chlorinated, and it tends to be QUITE warm, especially on Monday mornings (this is because kids with sickle-​cell anemia use the pool on Sundays, and the water needs to be especially warm for them — it hasn’t cooled down yet by Monday.) Since I am at Pitt, I have access to the pool at Trees Hall, which is superior by any metric, so I use that instead.
I like this Y quite a lot and wouldn’t consider switching, even though there are newer/​fancier Y’s in the area.