The plot thickens at Fitness First at 7900 Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda - and it sounds like good news for loyal members. While developer The JBG Companies is planning a mixed-use project that includes the site where the gym currently leases space, Fitness First has maintained it is not leaving.
Now the popular fitness center is apparently not only staying, but expanding. An employee said on Tuesday that the gym will take down walls to adjoining space in the building, to increase the facility's size. He said the gym's owner has signed a new 4-year lease, as well. Of course, Fitness First's owner has previously said their lease ran until 2019, so that is not really a major change in the termination date.
This would suggest that JBG is not going to commence demolition, or construction, for its project -
said to be anchored by a Trader Joe's grocery store - anytime soon. Yet, JBG's last public comment on its 7900 Wisconsin project estimated that construction would commence in January or February of 2015 - less than 60 days away.
Further confusing the question, Fitness First's neighbor down the street, a Parvizian rugs showroom, insists it is moving because "this building is being demolished!"
Stay tuned.
"Parvizian rugs showroom, insists it is moving because "this building is being demolished!"
ReplyDeleteThe local Persian rug stores are ALWAYS claiming to be "going out of business...every rug 75% off". You've lived in Bethesda all your life, and never figured this out?
Yes, everyone knows that. The difference is that this building will be demolished for the JBG project, whenever it starts.
DeleteThe first phase of the JBG project involves only the north end of that block, where the cleaners, former surplus store, and Dunmor's beer and wine are now.
ReplyDeleteIf you read Kraut's blog, you'd know this already
Also, "Freudian slip" does not mean what you seem to think that it does.
5:58 is wrong. The surplus store/beer house is totally a different project from Douglas Development.
DeleteYeah I believe that is the Douglas project. Nice try to bash Dyer though.
DeleteI'm embarrassed for 5:58AM and his blog. Especially since Robert just had an update on the Douglas surplus project this week.
ReplyDeleteSeveral dozen blogs have talked about the Douglas project. That one commentor was just mistaken in his attempt to bash Dyer (deservedly so). But yeah....
Delete5:58AM Sounds like other blogs mixed up the JBG and Douglas projects.
ReplyDeleteEmbarrassing, but understandable since JBG owns many properties in the downtown.