Neighborhood Council Supports Two New Fitness Studios, Talks Plans for Kasier-Permanente Offices

A proposed boutique gym and a rock climbing wall facility won support from the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council Wednesday.

Board of director members unanimously voted in favor of having exercise chain Anytime Fitness open a location inside the Ralphs shopping center at Devonshire Street and Canoga Avenue.

Now onto seeking approval from the city's planning department, the gym's owners want to operate out of a local 5,000-square-foot site that would be open 24 hours a day. A staff member would be on site during the day, but the business would remain unmanned at night and require a keycode password for entry.

The fitness studio would replace the former site of pharmacy that was last in operation a decade ago, which is fine by some board members who want to see the shopping center filled with new tenants.

"Let's give it a chance to spruce things up," said board member Linda van der Valk.

The plaza's leasing agent, Robin Bahlla, told Patch that the property is currently 40 percent unoccupied, but prospective tenants like Sharky's Woodfired Mexican Grill have expressed interest to move in if Anytime Fitness opens.

Board members were also in unison in voicing support of another fitness studio at 19851 Nordhoff St. that would feature a rock climbing and offer spin and yoga classes.

Van der Valk also gave an update on Kaiser Permanente, which wants to build non-emergency and non-urgent care medical offices at an 8.42-acre property at 9733-9835 Ave.

A project design has yet to be completed, but Kaiser has expressed plans to construct a three-story, 83,000-square-foot property that would also include 468 parking spaces, though the board of directors expressed they'd rather see a two-story development, Van der Valk said.

The neighborhood council hasn't taken a stance on the project yet and has requested that Kaiser set up meetings with residents to gather feedback on the project.