By Gary Lloyd
TRUSSVILLE — 24e Fitness opens for business in Trussville on Wednesday.
The fitness center opens on Main Street, next to Fresh Value Marketplace.
In October, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of Anytime Fitness owner Rick Plourde and Trussville resident George Glenn, alleging that the Trussville City Council and Downtown Redevelopment Authority “acted in violation of applicable law in regards to the subject property.” The lawsuit states the individuals or administrative bodies may have acted “arbitrarily, capriciously, negligently or carelessly in the development of or approval for the subject property.”
Attorneys for the two bodies then asked a Jefferson County judge to dismiss the two entities as defendants from the lawsuit filed over incentives used to bring the two new businesses to the city’s former vacant Food World building.
In a filing on behalf of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority, attorneys argued that the claims made in the lawsuit were settled in 2011 when a court ruling allowed the city of Trussville to purchase the Village in Trussville shopping center. The attorneys further argue that Downtown Redevelopment Authority members are protected from civil liability by state law because they serve as volunteers.
The filing states that the authority has “the power and discretion to purchase and/or to lease” the property.
In August, the Trussville City Council approved $800,000 in tax abatements over a four-year period for Fresh Value Marketplace and $912,000 to remodel the building to split it for the two occupants.
The city of Trussville spent about $22,000 per month for rent on the building since leasing it in October 2011. The city spent $250,000 to end a 15-year lease with America’s Thrift Store, which had planned to open a store there. Food World closed in September 2010.
In other business news, Sticks ‘N’ Stuff on Main Street in Trussville will soon be permanently closing.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.