Life Time Fitness Project Moving Forward

Life Time Fitness' proposal to build an upscale fitness center in place of the current Journal News building on Gannett Drive has taken another step forward.

The Westchester County Industrial Development Agency, a group that promotes business and job development in the county, voted to enter an agreement with Life Time Fitness last week. The agency works with businesses to negotiate benefits and incentives to either attract them or keep them in Westchester County.

Life Time Fitness, already in the advanced stages of acquiring the property, is currently negotiating a payment in lieu of taxes option with the Town/Village of Harrison for work done during the project. The negotiations, common for any large company moving into the area, will adjust the rate paid by the company in during the first few years after the property is purchased.

Harrison Mayor/Supervisor Ron Belmont said Monday that the negotiation process is moving along and that he is hopeful demolition of the current property can take place this year.

After officially purchasing the property, Life Time fitness plans to tear down the current Journal News Building to build a 209,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility. The Harrison Town Board , and the sale is expected to be finalized this year.

"It's going full speed ahead," Belmont said.

The fitness center will include three swimming pools, 10 tennis courts and a full-service spa. There are also plans for a separate children's gym, more than 400 pieces of exercise equipment, squash courts and a two-story rock-climbing wall.

Once completed, the fitness center is expected to bring about 200 jobs to the area, according to previous site plan proposals.

The Journal News has said it intends to rent space at a different location once the sale is complete.

Since the original application for the project was received in May 2011, local officials have touted the new fitness center as an attraction for businesses the town hopes to draw to Harrison's Platinum Mile.