Officials from Northeastern and the Boston YMCA confirmed yesterday that the two organizations have been holding informal discussions to possibly broker a deal for the future of the Y’s Huntington Avenue building. In the works is a plan for the university to buy the Y’s central branch building and relocate programs housed there, including the Cardinal Medeiros Transitional Program, an organization that accommodates 65 homeless men. The Y also currently houses Northeastern students and other programs. Though university officials would not comment as to what the space would be used for, the potential displacement of the shelter has drawn attention from city and state officials, including Mayor Thomas M. Menino and State Representative Gloria Fox (D-Roxbury). “This building is of vital importance to the city of Boston,” Fox said. “I was appalled by this particular program being treated as callous as it has. There will be a meeting of the minds, hearts and souls on this issue.” University relations officials from Northeastern conceded that informal discussions have been taking place between Executive Director of the Boston YMCA John Farrell and university officials. If Northeastern decides to buy the building, it will require a minimum of $12 to $15 million in renovations. Because of the large sum needed, Farrell said the YMCA would sell the building and seek to invest such exorbitant amounts in other branches. “Northeastern’s history with the YMCA is pretty long,” said Steve Sylven, the university’s senior media relations spokesman. “The university has been in discussion with the YMCA for quite some time in purchasing the building.” The university’s comments mirrored that of Farrell’s, acknowledging the dialogue between the two organizations, but cautioning that no plans were solidified. “We’ve talked to Northeastern,” Farrell said. “Northeastern is interested. We have no deal on the table, nothing set in stone, no agreement in place.” The purchase of the building would affect the viability of Cardinal Medeiros, which has been overshadowed amidst a political scuffle between the YMCA and city officials. Earlier this year, YMCA leaders told Cardinal Medeiros and all other programs based in the Hastings’s building that their lease would end June 30. Farrell told the News yesterday that he agreed to extend the June 30 expiration for the transitional program, after meeting last week with Mayor Menino. Farrell’s announcement bridges a disparity between the mayor and the YMCA. Prior to the agreement, Menino said that Y officials acted “irresponsible” in their lack of sensitivity toward the program. In their recent meeting, however, officials in the mayor’s office said Menino received assurance that Cardinal Medeiros would have a home. “The mayor’s goal, simply put, is to ensure there is no loss of capacity and there is a smooth transition,” said Eliza Greenberg, director of the Emergency Shelter Commission, which runs out of the mayor’s office. “Our understanding is that [the YMCA] agreed to extend the lease another six months.” During those six months, Cardinal Medeiros coordinators hope to find a home suitable for their operation, which primarily houses homeless men with various problems, ranging from drug abuse to alcoholism to financial troubles. While they could relocate with the help of the city, much will be lost in losing the Huntington Avenue location, residents of the shelter said. David Sprague, a former alcoholic and six-month resident of Cardinal Medeiros, said the program’s value relies heavily on its unique access to the center of metro Boston. “We are right in the heart of where we can affect a lot of people,” said Sprague, who currently works in the city and has been sober for five years. “We are not on the outskirts of the city. It’s easy for us to get up in the morning and go to our jobs because there is so much public transportation right here.” Even with mayoral support, the likelihood of moving the shelter to a suitable location remains slim, said Joe McPherson, the director of housing and homeless services at Kit Clark Senior Services, which oversees Cardinal Med-eiros. In Boston’s expensive realestate market, it would be a feat some leaders deem unfeasible. “We’ve started doing some searching,” McPherson said. “Basically, what we’ve found is that, first, there aren’t any neighborhoods in Boston that are going to take 65 homeless men in a transitional program, that it’s next to impossible.” Terry Wilson, Cardinal Med-eiros’ director, said everyone at the shelter hopes for a positive solution during the transition of the building’s ownership. “We’re proceeding as usual,” Wilson said. “We’re hoping for a good solution to this situation. We encourage [the tenants] to just keep focused on why they are here.” McPherson implored North-eastern to consider its intentions if the university indeed purchases the building. “We are talking about two non-profits that need to recognize their mission – Northeastern and the YMCA,” he said. “We would be delighted if NU bought the property and let us stay. There are a number of possibilities of how this could work.” Northeastern officials would not comment on the possibility of purchasing the building with tenants occupying any facet of it.