HAGERSTOWN, Md. (DC News Now) -- A 100,000 square-foot downtown landmark in Hagerstown is on the auction block. The former YMCA building on North Potomac Street - a neo-style 19th-century classic - has long been considered a historic treasure. Now, its future could well reshape the heart of the city. Purchase bids on the structure are due this week and the Maryland Historical Trust has paid tribute to local architect Fred Mack for his design of the building. Rhoni Mills started work in the building more than 20 years ago. Stretch Your Dollar: I-66 tolls bring in millions a year, as drivers shy away from pricey commutes "I have so many memories of the beautiful woodwork that was there," said Mills. "The marble. It felt kind of cozy in there." Back then, the YMCA was a residential and recreational facility, making it a thriving hub of social activity in town. Kristen Estes, membership director at the YMCA, holds an emotional attachment to the building. "You know, it's like someone is selling your grandma's house," she said. "We had residents who we kind of felt like we had adopted family. Just the history there. I knew everything about that building. I knew how many individual-laid tiles there were in the lobby." The Pennsylvania-based auction brokerage is tight-lipped about the building's future owners. Could Alexandria schools switch over to using DASH buses to pick up students? Rhoni Mills is hopeful that the character of the old structure will be protected as it is a mainstay of downtown, just a block from City Hall and two blocks from Public Square. "That building is just- well, I just really hope that somebody can restore it to the way it should be and, well, we miss the building," Mills said. "I just hope that whatever becomes of the YMCA, it's something good for the downtown area," Estes added. Meanwhile, the new YMCA facility on Eastern Boulevard remains a thriving part of the community with a dedicated staff and robust calendar of activities for adults and children.