Wachtler Knopf Equities and Sterling Equities to welcome Blink Fitness to 29,000 s/f in Melville

According to Wachtler Knopf Equities LLC, (WKE) Equinox Fitness Clubs has opened a new location of its gym concept, Blink Fitness. 121 Broadhollow Rd. is a 29,000 s/f former office building owned by Sterling Equities and managed by WKE. "I thought this building, prominently located at the corner of Rte. 110 and Pinelawn Rd. and close to major highways, would appeal to retail users," said Philip Wachtler, principal of WKE. "They [retail real estate brokers] told me the site faced multiple challenges and could not be used for anything other than office use. They told me it couldn't be done." Philip Wachtler, principal of WKE contacted Peter Levine of Charter Realty & Development regarding the project. The team obtained a zoning variance through connections on the Huntington Town Board who recognized the importance of this project, and with the aid of real estate lawyer Keith Archer of Harras Bloom & Archer. Tom Dixon of Nelson & Pope, an engineering firm, was contracted to assist with developing the site's waste infrastructure to accommodate the additional sanitary flow required for use by a gym. In just under a year and at the cost of $1.5 million.