ZBA decision on Crunch Gym delayed again

[ron_newman]

The Zoning Board of Appeals were scheduled to hear this case tonight and vote on it, but the applicant asked that it be postponed until their next meeting on December 10.

If you support having Crunch Gym move into the second floor of 240 Elm Street, please send e-mail to zba@somervillema.gov . Be sure to include your full name and residential address. If possible, tell them that you will walk, bike, or take public transit to the gym (which means it will have no impact on traffic or parking in Davis Square.)

[Previous posts on this subject: Nov. 5 | Sept. 11 | March 17 | March 11 ]

Comments

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

As a Medford resident I don't feel like I have the right to say anything, but I did belong to a Crunch gym downtown some years back and it was not a great experience. Folks running it were lazy and never dealt with basic cleaning and upkeep. Same effing music every day. And pointless hype. Something should go in there, but if it's not Crunch I won't be unhappy.

[ron_newman]

That's disheartening to hear. The Crunch folks gave the strong impression that Crunch was brand-new to the Boston area, resulting in news coverage such as this.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

I doubt everyone would have gotten that bit wrong. I'd bet that the place Ruth went to, even if it was called Crunch, wasn't part of this chain. It's a common fitness term, after all.

[ron_newman]

No, Ruth is right. I found this from Boston Business Journal, June 3, 2002:

Crunch Fitness to replace downtown Planet Fitness

At the time, Crunch was part of Bally. I don't think they are anymore. Gym chains seem to be constantly merging and divesting, almost as much as banks do.

Crunch must not have lasted long at 17 Winter Street, because that location has been through several other owners since then (according to the Google) and is about to become Planet Fitness once again.

[gruene.livejournal.com]

Personally I have no desire for any gym in Davis Square, but I'm sick of the mayor using the ZBA to shakedown anyone who wants to build anything in the city for contributions. This "delay" stinks to high heavan.

[ron_newman]

I encourage you to attend tonight's Ward 6 ResiStat meeting and express your opinion there too.

[gruene.livejournal.com]

I live in Ward 7, so I'll probably go to that one instead.

[vonelftinhaus.livejournal.com]

The approval for this could be important regardless of whatever is going in because of construction for the entire building- since a lot of it will change but more so with a gym that might need certain plumbing. From experience I know you always want to work from the top down on a building ( or of course the whole thing all at once)