A fitness firm billing itself as the first of its kind will partner with Winter Park-based Pennington Development Group in developing two retail-commercial buidings near Oviedo.
BioFit Performance will open its first fitness center in one of the buildings at the southwest corner of S.R. 426 and Aloma Woods Boulevard. Pennington will lease space in the other building and may move its headquarters there.
Chuck Hollis, principal at Pennington, told GrowthSpotter the partnership offers an exciting opportunity to reorient the project’s original concept from everyday retail-office to a health-fitness theme. BioFit’s focus lies in providing members with professional-level sports medicine and therapy, and should be a huge draw, he said.
“Their business model is sports medicine for everyone, not just pro athletes,” Hollis said. “It’s not your typical Gold’s Gym or LA Fitness.”
And the property’s proximity to the Cross-Seminole Trail and a nearby lake and woodland will serve as an amenity to the health-oriented theme. Pennington will take advantage of the landscape with sun-lit, open-vista glass sidings.
“There are not very many properties that have correlated with the amenity, which we are absolutely doing,” he said. “Not only that, but the development translates between the amenity space and the built environment.”
Pennington & Associates, the parent company of Pennington Development, had originally planned last fall to make both buildings mixed-use, with the company occupying about 5,000 square feet in one structure.
But those plans changed when the company entered into a partnership with Alf and Nathalie Andersson, who are financing the BioFit center. Now BioFit will occupy and own one 11,310-square-foot building while Pennington owns and leases the other 10,017 square feet.
Pennington is near closing on its purchase of the land from the Clayton family. Simultaneously, BioFit would buy a pad from Pennington Development.
Hollis said his company is still considering moving its headquarters into the multi-purpose building. Pennington hopes to break ground in April and offer space for lease in the fourth quarter.
“Our intent now is to move into the building but leasing activity has been strong,” he said.
Pennington & Associates will also be general contractor on the project. Hollis said opportunities for subcontractors will be sourced through his office.
BioFit is the brainchild of the Anderssons’ son, Kevin Masson. A strength and conditioning coach with a master’s degree in movement sciences from Barry University, Masson said he has been developing the BioFit concept for five years.
“I wanted to bring the level of expertise and care that those professionals get at an affordable price for everyone to experience,” Masson said via e-mail. “Whether you are interested in losing weight, increase performance or simply live a healthier lifestyle, we are here to provide all the best the industry has to offer for you to achieve your goals.”
Masson described BioFit as a private personal training facility that will operate on a class system based on fitness level. Members will enjoy a clients-to-coach ratio of 6:1, allowing them to engage with a coach every session.
“We believe in providing our members with the proper tools to build you up and transform your body, mind, and spirit,” he said. “Our coaches are all college graduates and will deliver results and assist you inside and outside of our classes to achieve your desired fitness goals.”
Members will have access to group sessions, strength conditioning for athletes, infra-red sauna, cryotherapy, stretch and massage therapy and contrast bath therapy. Masson said the center will also work together with doctors and chiropractors in physical therapy.
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