“I’m absolutely delighted we’re able to bring some jobs and keep some jobs in downtown Springfield,” building owner Jim Lagos said.
The Gorman, Veskauf, Henson & Wineberg law firm moved into the first floor of the building earlier this year.
The site is being remodeled for a completely different purpose than its original use, Lagos said.
“We’re trying to utilize a very historic building in a very efficient manner,” he said.
The fitness center, currently located inside the Bushnell Building, will move into the former press room and basement of the North Limestone Street property. The anticipated completion date is Nov. 1, owner and fitness trainer Pat Frock said.
Lagos suggested the move into the new location, she said.
“He’s been the mentor and supporter of the whole thing,” Frock said.
With more space, the gym will be able to provide additional fitness classes it couldn’t at its current location, Frock said.
The bricked-up windows in the old press room will be replaced to make the fitness center visible from North Street. The basement, called the Underground, will be the gym’s weightlifting area.
“Everything here is going to be bigger and better,” Frock said.
It’s the third expansion downtown for Frock, who opened her original location in the Bushnell in 2008 and later expanded on another floor in that building in 2010.
“I wouldn’t have done this if wasn’t downtown,” she said.
The facility will also have 12 trainers, 11 instructors and 12 additional employees, Frock said. She’s spent about $50,000 on new equipment for the new location.
“‘It’s going to be state-of-the-art for athletic enhancement,” Frock said.
Imperial Express trucking will bring 10 employees from its current location at 2525 N. Limestone St. in Moorefield Twp. They’re moving in on Oct. 10, Finance Manager Cindy Frey said.
“We’ll have a lot more space and we’ll be together,” Frey said. “We’re in two separate suites (now) so we’re always moving back and forth.”
The trucking company specializes in short- and long-hauling and its main client is Navistar, Frey said. The business has 43 employees, but about 10 will be located at the former News-Sun building. The other 33 employees are truck drivers, Frey said.
In December, the original portion of the former newspaper building, 202 N. Limestone St., was placed on the Springfield Register of Historic Properties, the first landmark added since 1986. Cox Media Group sold the building in February 2014 to Lagos Apartments IV Inc. The Springfield News-Sun now operates out of 1 S. Limestone St., Suite 1010, in downtown Springfield.
The fitness center’s move will free up about 94,000 square feet on the first floor of the Bushnell Building, Lagos said.
“I’m very much hoping we’ll be able to get an office use for the space,” Lagos said.
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