A slight decline in membership has not derailed expansion plans at the Roanoke Valley YMCA's two biggest facilities.

With about 8,500 members, the need for an addition at the Kirk Family YMCA remains, said Executive Director Cal Johnson.

Even while the overall membership has declined about 10 percent in six months, Johnson said the number of people using the facilities has not dropped.

"The numbers of people coming to the Y have stayed constant and are now increasing this time of year, so that definitely lends itself to continuing with the expansion," Johnson said.

The capital campaign to raise $1.25 million of the estimated $1.8 million needed for the 10,000-square-foot addition has taken longer than initially anticipated, causing a slight delay in the project's timeline.

The original goal was to have completed the fundraising by the end of 2008 and for construction to already be under way, Johnson said.

Now, with $1.2 million raised, Johnson said he hoped the fundraising goals will be met -- and possibly exceeded -- in the next two months and that construction could be completed by this time next year.

Another fundraising effort to expand the Salem facility, which has about 8,100 members, began in October. The anticipated $2.5 million project could also be completed by December. But that is also contingent on raising $1.25 million to help cover the cost.