Developers of the Market and Main in Bedford hope for one more change as part of the final puzzle piece for the mixed-use project: A 30,000-square-foot gym complex.
The latest change would replace a proposed office building of the same size to be built closest to Interstate 293. The demand for such a building has diminished since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flight House Gym, which has a location in Rye, hopes to open a custom-built second location at the development.
The plans were presented to the Planning Board during a conceptual site plan review. A more formal review would be needed for approval.
The main developer of the project is Encore Commercial of Texas.
“Encore, which is the developer of the site, has done an exhaustive search to try to find an office use,” said Tom Burns, a senior project manager with TFMoran, a consultant on the project.
The gym plan comes as the Planning Board gave conditional approval for Bowman Gardens, a five-story, independent senior living (55-plus) condominium building. The building with 62 units will take the place of a proposed hotel.
The plans for the two-story gym replace an open-air barn structure that was designed to provide an outdoor amenity for customers, which was set to have a fireplace and space for live music.
“It would still have that focal feature as you are coming down Main Street,” Burns said.
The new design would be used as part of Flight House’s operations, said Andrew Keating, an architect with Stack + Co. The previous barn space would have likely only operated seasonally as opposed to year-round use.
The gym is known for its large group fitness area in the middle of an open area of the first floor and offers recovery treatment areas. A mezzanine with a cardio area will look over the entire footprint, Keating said.
Owner Jay Collins described the gym as a family business during the board meeting. Flight House in Rye opened coming out of the pandemic and is focused on classes, he said.
“For about the last year, we’ve been working on expansion proposals,” Collins said. “Nothing has attracted (the company) more than the potential here in Bedford.”
The gym’s model is not about the same as high-volume gyms such as Planet Fitness. The gym focuses more on morning hours. The Rye gym closes at 9 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. It closes at 5 p.m. on the weekend.
The original gym was built in a former indoor skate park at the Rye Airfield. The equipment includes brands such as Hammer Strength, LifeFitness, EliteFTS, Rogue and Troy, according to its website.
Keating also showed a second schematic design with a “butterfly roof,” which appears to be a favorite among some Planning Board members, others worried about rain and snow collecting in the void space. Collins said his family also prefers the butterfly roof.
Unlike the office building, the traffic changes more frequently and will bring 70 or 80 trips during the peak morning traffic, according to Robert Duval, also with TFMoran. Employees of the office building would bring traffic in the morning, stay all day and leave in the afternoon.
“The demand is less,” he said. “Most of the stores aren’t even open yet.”
Market and Main is home to Friendly Toast, Trader Joe’s, Sweetgreen, Sephora and REI Co-op. Tavern in the Square will open a two-level restaurant in the future.