Gymnastics School to Move into Bounce City Site

Head Over Heels Gymnastics has gotten the go-ahead to take over the former Bounce City site in the Strongsville Plaza.

The Strongsville Planning Commission Thursday voted 7-0 in favor of both a conditional use permit and a small parking variance for the gym, which currently operates in 6,000 square feet at 11985 Prospect Rd.

The new site at 14767 Pearl Rd., which once housed a movie theater, has 12,225 square feet. 

Co-owner Sandy Klosowski told the Planning Commission the move would allow her growing gymnastics business to offer more programs, create jobs and fill a year-old vacancy.

The location has been vacant since March 2011.

Klosowski said the Strongsville High School gymnastics team and Ehrnfelt Recreation Center gymnastics programs already rent space from Head Over Heels to practice.

The commission last month voted down a conditional use permit on a technicality. City code allows fitness facilities to be no larger than 5,000 square feet in a General Business district.

The business has since received a variance from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Parking at the plaza has been an issue. The commission last month rejected plans for a Chinese restaurant there because it could not meet the parking requirements.

Under Strongsville's code, a business the size of Head Over Heels would require 499 spaces, with 345 provided in the lot, for a deficit of 154. 

But the BZA has already approved a 148-space deficit at the plaza, leaving Head Over Heels only six short.

Klosowski said her facility would hold high school and other meets, but only a few times a year.