A business owner wants to convert a gym and kickboxing center into an events and concert venue that could also accommodate nearly 400 people.
Doug Cartelli ran the Lion’s Den fitness center at 1385 Newfield St., Middletown, and now is applying to the city for a zoning permit to operate the space as an indoor recreation facility that could host music performances and other gatherings as well as the boxing, mixed martial arts and kickboxing events it was known for.
The nearly 12,000-square-foot gym had also operated for years as Go To Fitness under the late Robert Hurd, who was killed two years ago in Texas as he began a cross-country charity bike ride.
Cartelli’s zoning application indicates the business would operate on a limited schedule. Located a short distance from the Cromwell line, the former gym uses about one third of T & J Manufacturing’s 36,000-square-foot industrial building.
The location is less than a mile from Routes 9 and 372, the location is in an relatively secluded industrial zone bounded by woods.
Cartelli, who could not be reached Tuesday, did not specify the kind of music or entertainment events he’d feature at the new center.
But in the zoning application, traffic consultant F. A. Hesketh & Associates wrote “The current proposal is to convert the existing fitness center to an event space that would host concerts and sporting events and would be available to rent to host receptions and/or crafts fairs.
“The event space would have a maximum capacity of 398 people. It is anticipated that events would occur during the evenings on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and potentially during the afternoon hours on Saturday and Sunday,” Hesketh wrote.
Hibbard and Rosa Architects LLC presented a site plan showing that storage containers and other items in the parking lot would be removed so that a total of 199 spaces could be created.
, The floor plan for a proposed events center in Middletown. (Courtesy of Town of Middletown)
The application goes to a hearing by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Oct. 8. One of the topics commissioners will review is the impact on traffic along Newfield Street, which runs south to end at Route 66 near Middletown’s downtown.
Hesketh reported that its analysis determined a significant change would be on Saturdays, when Newfield Street — also known as Route 3 — is busiest. Cars entering or exiting the events center driveway could create delays, Hesketh reported.
The building’s access with Newfield “operates at acceptable levels of service during peak exiting hours, with the exception of a mid-day Saturday peak hour where exiting delays will approach five minutes,” Hesketh wrote. “Since the facility will be operational only a few days each month, (infrastructure) improvements for improved traffic control are not practicable.”
Instead, the consultant is recommending that a police officer be hired to direct traffic starting one hour before events and continuing until one hour after.
The proposed floor plan for the facility shows 140 seats in seven rows facing the stage, along with tables for about 150 people on the main floor and a mezzanine. More seating is designated in smaller areas around the building.