Corrections and clarifications: This story has been updated to reflect that Planet Fitness will move from its Dillon Drive location to 635 W. 29th St.
An old Safeway building on Pueblo’s north side is getting new life with plans for a Planet Fitness.
The old Safeway on West 29th Street has been divided into two addresses. The 635 W. 29th St. portion of the store is under construction for a new Planet Fitness exercise gym.
The other half of the store at 625 W. 29th St. and the former used car sales lot at 615 W. 29th St. will be made available to commercial businesses by the new property owner, Vincent Love of Rocky Mountain Pueblo RE LLC.
An application for a master sign plan — a document that outlines the design, location, and materials of all signs within a specific development — says Love “seeks to improve the general area currently in economic decline, including deteriorating structures and challenges such as homelessness and destruction of property.
“Despite these challenges, Rocky Mountain Pueblo RE LLC is committed to serving the community, contributing to local revitalization efforts and fostering economic growth by building a new location for the long-time community partner Planet Fitness,” the master sign plan states.
Pueblo’s Planet Fitness at 3333 Dillon Drive will be moved to the 635 W. 29th St. location.
During a June 11 Pueblo Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, the board gave unanimous approval for a master sign plan to accommodate the new businesses. The Safeway store closed in April 2016.
In other business on June 11, the commission voted unanimously to recommend Pueblo City Council approve rezoning for a site where two office buildings are planned in the Eagleridge Estates subdivision.
The 1.24-acre site at the corner of Eagleridge Boulevard and Ridge Drive is currently zoned residential. Builder Jeff Gallegos and property owner Lawrence Schreder told the commission the site initially was planned for duplexes.
Gallegos said he is seeking a business zoning so he can build two similar single-story commercial buildings at the site to accommodate a total of eight businesses, one of which will be his office.
A total of seven residents in the area sent emails or spoke to the commission at the meeting to oppose the plan.
Resident Joe Duran said he is opposed to the building “taking away the ambiance of the neighborhood.”
“A strip mall will stick out like a sore thumb,” he said.
Duran also expressed concerns about stormwater drainage at the site, but Principal Planner Beritt Odom said when building plans are submitted, there will have to be a plan to retain all stormwater on the site.
Gallegos said his engineer has already designed a stormwater plan for the site.
Lucas Montoya also voiced concerns about decreased property values for homeowners in the area.
“I live in the neighborhood and all their concerns are the same concerns I have. These will be offices for attorneys, doctors, people like that so it will be low key, low volume and quiet,” Gallegos said.
“I want what they want something that will be uplifting to the value of the homes,” he said.
Chieftain reporter Tracy Harmon covers business news. She can be reached by email at tharmon@chieftain.com or via X at x.com/tracywumps. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain atsubscribe.chieftain.com.
