New Gym to Green Up Varet Street
A biker passes 232 Varet Street, future home of the Green Fitness Studio, a new gym that aims to use recycled materials and energy efficient equipment. — Photo by Diego Cupolo
After acquiring a new falafel place, new wine shop, new café and new bar the Morgantown settlement will continue expanding its retail boundaries with a new eco-friendly gym. Construction is underway at 232 Varet Street where the Green Fitness Studio is slated to open this fall, giving fitness-starved residents a new option in their desolate industrial neighborhood.
The 7,900-square-foot facility will offer a wide range of training equipment, yoga, pilates and spin classes in a glass enclosed atrium, as well as an outdoor rooftop workout and lounge area – all for competitive membership prices, according to manager Rachel Borgen. The gym will also embrace environmentally sustainable design (a rare feat North Brooklyn) by using recycled construction materials, self-powered cardio machines and energy-efficient lighting.
“People in this community seem to be more environmentally conscious than average citizens so we are designing the gym with that kind of mentality,” Borgen said. “In the construction process, every time we have to make a decision we consider both regular materials and green materials, and then make the best decision from there.”
“Reuse-Reduce-Recycle” is definitely a guiding principle at Green Fitness Studio — the indoor training area will use rubber flooring made from old car tires and the bathrooms will be lined with recycled glass tile. Interior lighting will mainly consist of energy-sipping Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs and Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights.
Also, the main floor will use remanufactured workout machines, many of which will be self-powered to reduce energy consumption. Solar panels might be installed on the rooftop in the near future, but they are not a main priority before the gym’s grand opening.
Rachel’s father’s window guard manufacturing company, Avant Guards, has owned the building and been based in the first floor at 232 Varet Street for about 10 years. Green Fitness Studio will occupy the second story of the warehouse. The family was surprised at the new businesses that have opened across the street, but as they watched the Morgan area evolve, they decided it was ready for a gym.
Borgen said she has been seeking feedback from the community and wants to create a gym that best serves the needs of area residents. To do so, she created an online survey and every response is being taken into consideration.
“Surprisingly, a lot of people said they want a nutritionist and karate classes,” Borgen said. “If they want it, we’ll give it to them and if it works, we’ll expand our offerings in that area.”
Most intriguing of all, the Green Fitness Studio will create an outdoor rooftop garden/workout area in the middle of the North Brooklyn Industrial Complex… not the most likely of places to roll out a yoga mat on a tree-lined terrace. The outdoor area will serve multiple purposes, from lounging to exercise space, but most classes will be held in the 2000-square foot glass enclosed atrium.
“We understand that we’re in an industrial area and we can’t create a total oasis, but we’re trying,” Borgen said.
The gym advertises its opening date as October 15, 2009 and is looking to hire locally so any unemployed personal trainers out there should send in their resumes.
Any idea about rates? I’m definitely interested if it is not too expensive.
omg.
I want this, now.
sauna, please
yes!
Thanks Diego Cupolo for the article
We at Green Fitness Studio wants to hear from you, Log on and tell us what you would like to see and do at our new facility http://www.greenfitnessstudio.com
Gym Tech, located at 188 Varet St, will be supplying all the remanufactured equipment for the facility. We are honored to be part of this project and look forward to establishing a long lasting relationship with Barry and Green Fitness Studio!
steam room!
I love it. Thanks for the article!
Do you think these people could help to control the
trucks idling coming for Boars Head every night?I live cross the street and although the street and the hood are developing the noise and the air pollution is unbearable.really.The Gym idea is great but the air we breath here is the worst.
Any idea how much memberships are going to cost? Not to much pleaseee!
Not Expensive please have sauna , trainer
Does anyone know if they are still scheduled to open this week?
If by “competitive” you mean to compete with the ridiculous NYSC gym prices, no thanks. Anything around $90 per month or higher just for membership is too expensive! I vote for $50 or less per month. I hope you can make that happen. Considering that your father owns the building, I would guess that rent isn’t something you will have to worry about. Thanks for doing this – I’m very excited for a gym in the neighborhood.
I’m beginning to question whether this place even exists. I’ve seen the posts on here, been to their website, filled out the survey, and received emails about the gym and the pre-sale. It all sounds great! But, I have called, left messages, and emailed Green Fitness Studio and still have not received a single response. I think their pre-sale was over today and I was not able to take advantage of it because they are completely unresponsive.
Does anyone have any idea regarding rates? It should be inexpensive, right? I mean, I don’t know many people living around here who can afford much.
I went by, its not opened yet, but the price per month ranges $70(presale price) to $100 a month
For the love of god, when is this gym opening? my other membership runs out today :(
finally got a hold of them. the gym is great! can’t wait for it to open.
I’m with you, ak — WHEN are they opening? Haven’t gotten an update for weeks. Irritating.
i think they will be open by Dec. 15th…maybe a little bit later. but, definitely this month. the space is just about finished and ready.
Unless they really rush things, I highly doubt it will open before the new year. Went there today to check it out and the space is quite fantastic, and it will likely be a popular in the spring. Most of the surfacing stuff is complete and equipment is there but there’re still pipes lying around and such.
The outdoor area on the roof would be perfect for yoga when the weather gets better. Then there’re two or three really cool areas with glass roof and one glass wall and parquet floors.
Overall, this is exciting, I live 5 blocks away from this gym and have been looking for a place to work out in the winter and this seems to fit well.
It would be nice if they attempted to contact those of us who have already paid…bi-weekly update. Doesn’t take much. I have a business that is launching and I answer every single email that comes in inquiring about our launch date. Set up autoresponder with detailed, updated, pertinent info. It’s just good business, takes five minutes.
got an email the other day.. grand opening the 21st !
contact zulay for a discount for gym.