Mayor Donald Grebien (Pawtucket) and Mayor Jorge Elorza (Providence) joined with local officials and members of the business community to celebrate the start of construction on Rhode Island's newest LA Fitness facility. Located on the Providence/Pawtucket line, the new 45,000 s/f health club with parking to accommodate up to 300 vehicles is seen as a major catalyst to help spur economic development in the area.
"Today is a terrific day for both our cities," said Grebien. "Not only will this fantastic new gym help transform this neighborhood, but its arrival is a great example of how both Providence and Pawtucket can attract new businesses and work together to drive our economies forward."
Elorza said, "One of my priorities as Mayor is to show companies looking to move to Providence that we value their business." "That means making our city more business friendly and helping to get them up and running quickly. This new LA Fitness demonstrates that both Providence and Pawtucket are open for business and ready to help them succeed."
As part of the celebration, officials hoisted up a 100 lb. barbell to help symbolize the strength of progress on the new facility. After a debilitating winter that delayed construction several weeks, the new facility already has most of its exterior walls up and is on schedule to be completed sometime this fall.
The property for the new health club is owned by the Procaccianti Group and partner Stephen R. Lewinstein Associates. LA Fitness has more than 600 locations nationwide and offers a variety of amenities. The new facility on Pawtucket Ave will include state of the art equipment, group training, personal training, specialized classes, racquetball courts, basketball court, aquatics facility, child care, juice bar, spa, sauna and other attractions.
"We are thrilled to be coming to this part of the state, as we have seen tremendous growth in Rhode Island over the past few years," said James O'Sullivan, director of development Fitness International. "The fact that we get to be in two great cities like Pawtucket and Providence at the same time is just the icing on the cake."
The property was formerly home to a Sears store, Anderson-Little Men's Clothing Store, and Down Under Duckpin Bowl. The last standing building, Sears, was demolished in December to make way for the gym and the new parking facility.
"This is a great first step toward modernizing this region of Pawtucket and Providence," said Michael Voccola, corporate vice president and associate general counsel at the Procaccianti Group.