Tag: Central Rock Gym

Imagine Monroe approves two projects that will create, retain jobs

workers-construction-site-hardhats-38293Two local projects have been approved for funding assistance by Imagine Monroe, formerly the County of Monroe Industrial Development Agency, expecting to retain more than a dozen jobs and add 15 part-time jobs here.

Buckingham Properties LLC has proposed the construction of a 20,000-square-foot facility that will house Central Rock Gym at Alex Park, the site of the former Genesee Hospital. CRG will create an indoor rock climbing, fitness and yoga facility that will host 150 climbers at one time.

Buckingham is seeking approval for JobsPlus property tax abatement, as well as mortgage and sales tax exemption. CRG is requesting approval of sales tax exemption on $550,000 of investment.

The project will create eight full-time jobs and 15 part-time jobs.

Gensteel Industrial Complex LLC, a real estate holding company, has proposed to renovate a vacant, 22,000-square-foot industrial building and associated storage yard of nearly four acres of land in the city of Rochester. Upstate Site & Pipe Inc. will be the initial tenant, occupying 20 percent of the building and the entire storage yard.

Gensteel is seeking approval for JobsPlus property tax abatement as well as mortgage and sales tax exemption. Upstate Site & Pipe is seeking approval of a sales tax exemption on $200,000 for leasehold improvements and non-manufacturing equipment.

In addition to the four jobs retained, the project will create one full-time job.

“This month alone, Imagine Monroe will help create and retain 28 good-paying jobs for Monroe County residents,” County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo said in a statement.

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Rock climbing gym will anchor Alex Park development

Central Rock Gym, a rock-climbing fitness company with nine locations in New England and New York, plans to open another gym at Rochester’s Alex Park.

CRG, based in Worcester, Mass., plans to open its 20,000-square-foot gym in the fall and will sell memberships starting this summer.

The gym will feature 45-foot climbing walls for adults, a dedicated climbing area for children, workout machines, weight lifting, fitness classes and yoga.

The gym will be an anchor tenant at Buckingham Properties’ new development on Alexander Street between Park and Monroe avenues.

“Central Rock Gym is going to be a social, physical centerpiece for the community of downtown Rochester,” said Ed Hardy, one of the brothers who founded and co-owns the growing chain of climbing gyms. Other locations, including a new one in Syracuse, have seen groups of young professionals coming on weeknights and families on weekends.

Central Rock Gym has a dedicated children's climbing area.
Central Rock Gym has a dedicated children’s climbing area.

Unlike some other forms of fitness routine, climbing requires a longer time to plan and tackle routes, and some forms require cooperation with other climbers.

“It’s a super-social sport,” Hardy said. “You have to get your body to do something difficult. Climbers share information to help friends get up the wall.”

Each Central Rock Gym location features different configurations.
Each Central Rock Gym location features different configurations.

Hardy said the gym will also host team competitions, looking forward to the 2020 Olympics when rock climbing is included as a competitive sport. “The climbing teams create a way for kids to get really good at the sport,” Hardy said.

The Rochester gym will be part of an expansion of the chain into Upstate New York and Manhattan. By year’s end, Hardy said, CRG plans to have 13 or 14 gyms. For more information about the company, founded in 2008, visit www.centralrockgym.com. Information about the Rochester gym will be added soon, Hardy said.

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