Racquet club adding center

Undeterred by the nation's shaky economy, a partner in the Yuba City Racquet & Health Club said ground will be broken early next year on a new, much larger family-oriented club on the city's northwest side.

Pete Bakis said construction of the 74,000-square-foot River Valley Family Fitness Center at the southeast corner of Butte House and Tharp roads is expected to take nine months. Hilbers Inc. of Yuba City will be the general contractor.

The economy "does scare us, but we're very confident that the healthy family living trend will (transcend) the current economic conditions," said Bakis.

The Yuba City Planning Commission approved the site plan for the project. Installation of utility lines is underway, said Bakis.

The club will be built on the south side of a vacant lot immediately west of the Feather Downs shopping center.

On the north side of the lot, developer Ravi Tumber is planning a 76,000-square foot mixed-use development with offices, stores and 17 condominiums on the upper floors, said Brian Trudgeon, the city's principal planner.

Tumber could not be reached Friday for comment on the status of his project.

Despite today's tight credit climate, Bakis said, he and his partners are having no trouble borrowing money for the new health club, based on the success of the existing club on Jones Road. The current construction slump has made large projects like the new club more affordable, he said.

The health club will be divided into areas for adults and children, said Bakis.

The children's area, would include a splash park, cyber room, basketball court, gymnastics area and 10,000 square feet of classrooms for games and other activities. Children 5 and under and those between 6 and 12 will have separate areas.

The adult area will include two racquetball courts, a basketball court, a "salon spa" with rehabilitation and physical therapy areas and four group exercise rooms, including a "ladies only" area, said Bakis.

Other features will include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a rock climbing wall, two large adult locker rooms and a family locker room for use by adults with children.

The two-story building will be 21⁄2 times larger than the existing club and will include a 35,000 square feet of fitness areas with free weights, weight machines and cardio equipment, said Bakis.

Membership fees will be about the same as the existing club — $74 a month for singles and $156 for families — and will allow use of either club. Six months before the new club opens, founder memberships will be available at a reduced rate, he said.

The Tumber development next door, to be called La Bella Vita, will include businesses "complementary" to the health club. The two projects will have "a higher end of landscaping we're not used to seeing in this area," said Bakis.

Fitness amenities

• A children's area with splash park, cyber room, basketball court, gymnastics area and 10,000 square feet of classrooms for games and other activities

• Weightroom, two racquetball courts, basketball court, rock climbing wall

• Indoor, outdoor swimming, spa

• Women's only area

• Rehabilitation center

Contact Appeal-Democrat re-porter Rob Young at 749-4710 or at ryoung@appealdemocrat.com.