Astoria Gym Gets CB1 Approval For Expansion It Already Did

ASTORIA, QUEENS — The Rock Health & Fitness, a gym in Astoria, got the unanimous approval of Queens Community Board 1 to authorize an expansion that the gym already did.

Board members voted 30-0 on Tuesday night to approve an amended permit that would bring the gym's expansion, from one floors to two, into compliance.

The gym, at 22-06 31st St. just below Ditmars Boulevard, took on another floor because it was "a good business opportunity" that presented itself, according to Elyse Foladare, a land-use lawyer who spoke to the board on the owner's behalf.

"What made you deviate from the approved plan when you went into construction?” Elizabeth Erion, co-chair of the board's land use and zoning committee, asked. “You guys went ahead and built something different from what was approved.”

Foladare said the owner decided to seize the expansion opportunity and apply for legalization later because of how long it takes to get approval from the New York City Board of Standards and Appeals.

“It won’t happen again, because there’s no place in the building," Foladare said. “It was the right business decision, and we really weren’t trying to do anything in bad faith.”