Business & Tech

Proposal Would Replace Journal News Building With Fitness Center

The Harrison Town Board advanced a proposal that would bring a state-of-the-art fitness center to Westchester Avenue.

Three swimming pools, two basketball courts and even a full-service spa could be coming to Westchester Avenue, in an addition town officials hope would draw much needed businesses to Harrison's sparsely populated Platinum Mile.

Lifetime Fitness, a Minnesota-based fitness company, intends to purchase the property owned by the Journal News on Gannett Drive to turn it into a two-story, 207,000 square foot, fitness center. The sale is contingent on the town's approval of an exception use permit and site plan.

"As we all know this area has had rough economic times in the last four to five years, and many of these office parks need the infusion of capitol to attract new tenants," said Frank McCullough, an attorney representing Lifetime Fitness. "I think this would be a terrific start."

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Under the proposal the current building at 1 Gannett Drive would be torn down and re-built. The Journal News has already moved its printing operations away from the site, but still has offices there. The newspaper has been looking to sell the property for more than a year.

"The idea that something like this would replace a building that is very old and outdated and previously had commercial trucks coming in and out all hours of the early morning, this is a wonderful, wonderful, substitution," said Harrison Trustee Marlane Amelio who, along with the rest of the Harrison Town Board, looked at the project optimistically.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.

Jeff Melby, vice president of development for Lifetime Fitness, unveiled the lavish site plan, which calls for a separate children's gym, more than 400 pieces of exercise equipment, squash and racketball courts and a two-story rock climbing wall. Once constructed, Lifetime Fitness estimates the center would bring 200 new jobs with it as well.

Harrison's Platinum Mile has emptied significantly over the last five years. Once heavily sought after, many of the office buildings along the stretch now sit empty as businesses have migrated to newer facilities.

Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Joan Walsh said commercial property owners could use the new facility to draw businesses back to the area.

"So many office parks are dying because the buildings are too old and it costs too much to renovate them," Walsh said. "They're going to use this as a selling point to fill their buildings."

Trustee Fred Sciliano agreed, "this could be a very big stimulus for Westchester Avenue," he said.

The 22.4 acre property is surrounded by highways and interstates, so board members said they don't expect opposition from residents in the area. The property is located at the end of a half-mile road occupied by several other office buildings.

"It is the ideal spot," Amelio said.

The application will now go to the Harrison Planning Board. If approved there it would be sent back to the Town Board for final approval.

"I think it's a very exciting thing," Walsh said.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here