Former Fitness One in front of Northport Medical Center is coming down

By WVUA 23 Student News Reporter Gracie Fusco

If you drive down McFarland Boulevard in Northport, it’s not hard to miss. Loud bulldozer and cranes are demolishing the former Fitness One building in front of Northport Medical Center.

DCH Health Systems Vice President of Marketing and Communications Andy North said the building was originally owned by a group a physicians but was recently purchased by DCH.

The building required a lot of maintenance and was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain, North said, so tearing it down became the best option as the Northport Medical Center campus undergoes a facelift.

Construction inside NMC began a few months ago and updates on the facility’s exterior property began last week.

“We are just doing minor construction inside and out of the hospital,” said construction superintendent Tim Booth. “Right now we are demolishing the Fitness One building. It should take about three weeks, give or take, to get the building all the way down.”

North said there are no specific plans to replace the building. Right now, DCH is focused on cleaning up the space.

“The intent at this point is to make a more attractive frontage for Northport Medical Center,” said North.