CAMDEN – MBNA America has secured permits to demolish the former Camden Area YMCA building.

MBNA spokeswoman Carolyn Marsh said Friday that interior demolition work is expected to begin next week.

The company does not disclose its reasons for its building decisions, she said

The credit card lender, which is a major presence in the area, bought the building, which is located on Chestnut Street at the intersection of Frye Street, in the late fall of 2001 as the YMCA was building a new facility in Rockport.

The company paid $1 million for the building, which dates to the early 20th century.

At the time of its purchase, MBNA officials said they planned to move the company’s educational charity, the MBNA Foundation, into the building. They also said they wanted to assess its condition before deciding whether they would renovate it or replace it.

In 2001, MBNA spokesman David Spartin said if the building were to be replaced, company officials would work to ensure that the new structure would be compatible with the neighborhood.

Marsh said Friday that the company has not made any decision about what it will do with the property after the demolition is complete. She said the company would landscape the property to make it attractive while it contemplated what use the property might have.

The YMCA vacated the building in October 2002.

Some downtown business owners fought the Y’s plan to move to Union Street in Rockport, arguing that the organization should be part of a downtown. Later, after the Y committed to moving, McCormick & Associates Builders announced plans to convert the structure into condominiums.

That plan also was opposed by some business owners, who didn’t want to see the use change from commercial to residential.

The Camden Planning Board turned down the redevelopment application from McCormick & Associates just before MBNA bought the property.

A survey of the property completed in anticipation of the renovation by McCormick & Associates showed that part of the building extruded into the road right of way on Frye Street. In November 2001, voters failed to approve a variance that would have brought the property into compliance.

Marsh said that MBNA Foundation staff members are working in offices adjacent to the company’s main office in Camden.