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BELMONT 2.0

Exciting changes are coming to Chicago Yacht Club. This page is intended to keep members up to date on developments at the Belmont Campus. Look for information, updates on progress and requests for feedback here. When we have updates to share, we’ll send an email to let you know. In the meantime, watch this space!

We created tabs with information including: the history of the Belmont Barge, how to contribute, limitations with the campus, our initial feedback collection, and what we believe is still relevant.

Take a peek, and reach out if you have any questions. Thank you for your support and feedback throughout this process!

  • History
    • History

      In 1875, Chicago Yacht Club was incorporated by a visionary group. Despite wars and financial challenges, our founders and their successors grew the Club and built the facilities we call home. As we approach our 150th anniversary we are challenged to act with the foresight shown by our founders to honor their legacy and plan for the future.

      Chicago Yacht Club—our home away from home—is fortunate to have two distinct yet complementary locations. While Monroe is a great destination, our On the Water campus at Belmont serves many member needs through two structures. Our world class sailing school operates primarily from the sailing center barge. The main Belmont Clubhouse serves casual dining needs, Race Committee, regattas, family time, member rentals of Club assets, and storage of almost all Club marine assets. That multi-purpose facility is 100 years old! We must replace it to serve us for the next 100 years.

      Our replacement journey started in 2018.  Before we were interrupted by the Pandemic, we held focus group discussions and town hall meetings to learn how members use what we lovingly refer to as “The Barge”, and to understand our future needs for the main clubhouse structure. Finally, we are moving forward. The Board of Directors wants to gather information from members one last time before finalizing our plans. Life has changed for all of us post Covid, so what are your current thoughts about Belmont?

      What launched the Project?

      Survey History

      • Initial Survey 2007 unearthed specific concerns with the age and longevity of the barge (~15 years ago)
      • Annually since 2018, we have been assured that barge was safe for use but at the end of its useful life and needed to be replaced. The surveyor affirmed these conclusions on October 12, 2022.
      • The need to replace the current barge led to focus group discussions with members to determine member views of needs and uses of Belmont Station. Members gave further input at a series of Town Hall meetings.

      Member input informed club leadership that we need the Belmont Clubhouse, but it is crucial that the space be more flexible to meet members’ on the water and social uses. Those uses might include private events, but are not members’ main focus.

  • Limitations
    • What limitations must we operate within?

      1. Our lease with the Park District restricts our main buildings to be floating facilities in the same location as currently situated
      2. The clubhouse can be no bigger than the current footprint–50’ x 150’ barge - and no higher than the sailing school barge
      3. Parking access is governed by the Park District. There is a pay lot and another lot available to Belmont Harbor permit holders. The Chicago Park District has allowed CYC special passes to give members who are not Belmont permit holders access to the permit holders lot. As we do at Monroe, non-members should use nearby paid parking, either in the Park District pay lot or at buildings across DuSable Lake Shore Drive
      4. Docks are governed by the Chicago Park District. In addition to transient slips attached to the clubhouse, CYC leases 11 slips on what is currently the Park District’s “U” dock for use by CYC members and visiting yachtsmen
      5. We cannot perform construction of the building on site, so we cannot add to the building at a later date
  • Feedback
    • In 2017-2018, a number of focus groups and town hall meetings were held. Many suggestions were heard and accommodated in the plans at that time. We want to know if current membership is interested in the same features. Participants offered many suggestions for improving Belmont Harbor Station. Some suggestions have been addressed. Please utilize the below feedback form so the Flag and Board know how important these suggestions are in the new design updates. This form will let them know if you agree with the following suggestions, or if you no longer have a desire for some or all of these suggestions to be implemented. Your feedback is critical to informing the Flag and Board's decisions for generating the final design!

      Role of Belmont Station: Members see it as an advantage that CYC has two stations to serve different member segments and interests. They encourage the Club to develop and maintain two differentiated Stations that work together to support the Club’s position as a premier yacht club. Belmont is the facility where members engage in boating, sailing and racing, youth instruction and family-friendly water activities in a fun casual social environment.

      Use of space: Participants called for more casual indoor/outdoor social spaces, including better use of the patio and wanted to take advantage of views of the lake, harbor, and city. They also wanted to better accommodate different activities at the same time; (i.e., adults/families; members/events; water users/social users) and to create better circulation/space usage throughout the building.

      • During Covid, we vastly improved facilities on the Belmont patio. A rooftop deck is in the current plans, but the membership is divided on keeping this space.
      • On the first level, multi-purpose rooms were planned, including a larger room for family activities, smaller rooms that could be used for a private member-hosted dinner, staff office, race committee office, and individual work stations. Most of these spaces can be used for anything from protest meetings to regatta check-in to small member-hosted events. We want to be sure the new clubhouse can better allow us to host significant regattas and other water-focused activities, including overflow sailing programs from the sailing school barge since that building is often at capacity. It is likely most of these sorts of activities would happen on the first level.
      • On the second level, a moveable wall was included so the main room could be divided into space for a member-hosted gatherings while still allowing other members to use a smaller portion of the space. The idea of the second floor is to provide a space very much like the current Belmont, with a way to accommodate various activities at once, as members requested. For example, enabling a way for members to gather after racing while a larger event, such as a member-hosted cocktail party, was happening.

      Dining: Members wanted a good casual food operation that is consistent and reliable, including a better snack bar/grab ‘n go outlet to extend operating hours at a reasonable cost and supply boaters with provisions they could take out on the water.

      • We now have mobile ordering, and a snack bar is included in the plans on the first level.

      Ambiance: Most participants felt the appearance of Belmont was about right but could be enhanced through better displays of the Club’s wonderful collection of trophies and historical displays. They noted a desire to improve the entry, so it reflects the stature of the club. There were frequent comments on the need for better acoustics at Belmont Harbor Station.

      • These wishes were accommodated in the current plans by upgrading the finishes within the clubhouse, adding improved A/V capabilities, and adding permanent display areas.

      New amenities: Some participants saw a pool as a critical need for attracting and retaining young families. A workout space was viewed by some as an opportunity to add value for adults and incorporate fitness into the Junior Sailing program. They called for a library and/or wi-fi lounge/remote workspace, and a workroom.

      • Individual workspaces were added on the main level. In further investigation a workout facility was not desired by a majority of members. A pool is still in the plans as a consideration

      Storage/Space: There was demand for more and better organized storage capabilities; i.e., Opti’s; children’s activities; RC boats, etc.

      • This is being addressed in the current plans with the inclusion of the multi-functional family space on the first floor. There will be significantly more storage in the basement of the new barge. The question of how to better move sails from the hold up to dock level is being considered.

      FEEDBACK FORM

  • Project Status
    • Currently, we are in full swing with barge construction.

      We signed the construction contract for the new barge in June 2022. Work began almost immediately and has steadily progressed. The contract set April 29, 2023, as the date for delivery of the completed barge at the shipyard in Grandview, Indiana at Mile 734 on the Ohio River. So far, we are on schedule. Once we take delivery, the barge will be moved up the Ohio to the Mississippi River, then to the Illinois River. We expect it to land on the Calumet River, where construction of the building will take place.

      At the October 2022 Board of Directors meeting the Board approved re-engaging with the architects and engineers to make changes to the existing plans reflecting member feedback and efforts to manage the costs of construction. That process is beginning, and we hope to have it finalized in early 2023. At the same time, the Board and Flag are working to refine and finalize financing plans.

      October 5, 2022

      November 5, 2022

      2022 New Belmont Town Hall Presentation - PowerPoint

      2022 New Belmont Town Hall Presentation - Recording
  • Contributions to Date
    • Make a Contribution to Help Secure Our Future

      If you would like to discuss contributing to the building fund, please reach out to Commodore Lisa Curcio Gaston at [email protected].

      If you would like to make a contribution now to help secure our future, please choose a link below:

      ARRANGE A CONTRIBUTION CONTRIBUTE VIA CYC MEMBER ACCOUNT CONTRIBUTE VIA PAYPAL

      A Special Thank You to Our Belmont Contributors

      Naming Rights to Harbor View Bar: Captain Dave Truitt
      Naming Rights to Main Dining Room: Donald R. Wilson Jr. Family Foundation/Convexity Racing
      Gold Level Contributors: Carolyn & Eric Osterle

      • Jim Allen
      • Joan Allesee
      • Gary Allie William Ankenbrandt & William Cartwright
      • Nancy Aulice
      • Elizabeth & Peter Barrett
      • Wynne & David Baruch
      • Nina Owen & Michael Belsley
      • Christie & John Benish
      • Nancy & Nicholas Berberian
      • Thomas & Virginia Blasco
      • Jill Brennan
      • Joel Brosk
      • John Buenz
      • George Burrows
      • Connor Camp
      • Robert Cardenas
      • Thomas Carr
      • John Crossan
      • Monique & John Crossan
      • Lisa Curcio Gaston
      • Alix Dowling & Geoffrey Davis
      • William Dawson
      • Alycia Dominion
      • Stefanie Munsch & Steven Dorfman
      • Ann Drake
      • John Dunlevy
      • Taylor Dunphy
      • Peter Ellis 
      • Chelli & Darin Facer
      • Carrie & Edward Falkenhayn
      • Diane & Kevin Foote
      • Allison Park & Michael Frerker
      • Stephanie & Mark Gaffin
      • Robert Geudtner
      • Judy & Richard Gray
      • Raymond Groble III 
      • Vicki & Bill Hood
      • Ashley Hunsader
      • Elizabeth & Larry Hunter-Blank
      • Alice Martin & Edwin Jones
      • Robert & Maryann Kelman
      • Barbara & Anthony Kesman
      • Colleen King
      • Michael Kovacs
      • Kelly & Travis Kruger
      • Laura Lanski
      • Dena & Kurt Lentsch
      • Sue Ellen & Warren Levins
      • Anne & Rocque Lipford Jr.
      • Sue Lippe
      • Nicholas & Lauren Manusos
      • Clare C. Murphy Marlin;
      • Mary & Gene McCarthy
      • Jeanene & James Meisser
      • Cookie Merens
      • Sophie & John Moraris
      • Nicholas Naber
      • Eric Neveux
      • Marcella & Raymond Oral
      • Katrina Orlov
      • Janet & Rodger Owen
      • Marissa Petruno & Matthew Farrington
      • Patrick Pilch
      • Sarah Porter
      • Janice Promer
      • Hannah Pustejovsky
      • John Roberts
      • Rachel & John Rosanova
      • Sharon & Louis Rosenthal
      • Patricia & Steven Salk
      • Graham Sauser
      • Kristin Schultes
      • Lauren Schultes
      • Amy Schwartz
      • William Orton & Gregory Serafin
      • Catherine & Robert Shanahan
      • Barbara & Steven Sickler
      • Laura & Leif Sigmond
      • Stevie & Scott Sims
      • Malcom "Skip" Harsch & Matthew Killem
      • Aimee Smith
      • Ian Smith
      • Nancy Snyder
      • Richard Stuckey
      • Elizabeth & Thomas Sublewski
      • James Sugrue
      • Frank Ten Brink & Jeannine Cleary
      • Dustin Toale
      • Marrgwen & Stuart Townsend
      • Sonja & Samuel Veilleux
      • Sasha Wiesen
      • Ruzica and Robert J. Wiesen
      • Ivy Williams
      • Abigail Winkler
      • Eric Winter
      • Jeff Wootton
  • Latest News & Announcements
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