BY PATRICK O’NEILL
Since 2005, there have been plans to build a Workout Club and Wellness Center in Bedford, but nothing has happened.
At the Zoning Board’s Tuesday, Oct. 21, meeting, the company returned to get re-approvals for the project.
Jeff Kevan, of TFMoran Engineering, met before members of the board to seek extensions on the plans to build a 90,800- square-foot building at the corner of Donald Street Extension and Route 114. The facility would include a full workout area, a swimming pool, day care, medical offices and a dry cleaner, among other amenities.
“We’re back here trying to acquire the same variances we had before,” said Kevan at the meeting. “We’re asking for a twoyear time frame (extension) to move through these economic times.”
Construction has been delayed because Workout Club and Wellness Center owner Ron Tringale received approvals for centers in Bedford and Salem at the same time and chose to build the Salem center first. He also has not received enough tenants to operate the different amenities the Bedford center would have.
“The owner met with the planning staff last week,” said board member Karen Elmer. “He has spent all his money in Salem. He would like to break ground next week if he could get that one tenant.”
According to Kent Worden, the designer for the project, it would take approximately one year to complete. If Tringale can begin work on the project, the project would approach $20 million.
“These kinds of projects take a long time to put together,” said Worden.
One resident, who lives close to the proposed site, voiced his disapproval to the board. “The traffic situated on New Boston Road gets worse daily,” said engineer Drew Gillett of Holbrook Road. “It’s pretty clear this will dominate the intersection.”
To accommodate the increase in traffic, Workout Club and Wellness Center would pay for the addition of a third lane to Route 114. The center also wants to add a second sign to the property, which has irked other business owners.
“What’s good for one commercial property owner should be good for other commercial property owners,” said Quin Munson of Bedford Fields, a company that has been unable to obtain a second sign for their business from the board.
The building is expected to be 156,225 square feet over two floors.
“The thing is a big box. A big huge box,” said Gillett. “They can’t get it built. It’s too much trouble.”
The center, Kevan said, could improve property values in the area.
“This facility does not exist in Bedford right now. We’re providing a service and a function that doesn’t exist,” Kevan said.
While working on beginning the Bedford facility, Workout Club and Wellness Center will also be planning an expansion of its Londonderry center.
The Zoning Board did not vote on any of the re-approval requests at the meeting, but the Planning Board will discuss reapproval at its Monday, Nov. 3, meeting.