Equinox Fitness approved after six failed cases in which BSA found it lied to the Board. In its seventh case before BSA, Equinox Fitness Club obtained approval to legalize its 26,600-square-foot gym at 1511 Third Avenue at East 85th Street. Equinox has operated its Third Avenue gym for over ten years without a permit. The zoning restricts gyms to the first and second stories, but Equinox’s Third Avenue gym occupies space on four stories.

In 1996, Equinox sought to legalize the gym space, applying to BSA for a special permit. Originally, the building had two full stories with L-shaped floors on the third and fourth stories. The Related Company, owners of 1511 Third Avenue at the time, built out full stories on the third and fourth levels, adding 4,400 sq.ft. of space. When Equinox applied for a special permit to legalize the gym, BSA ruled that the gym exceeded its floor area limits and could not be legalized by special permit. Equinox altered the application, seeking a variance, which BSA denied. (read more…)