Posted Friday, July 6, 2018 12:03 am

A building on Airport Road in Jasper that previously housed a gym is receiving a transformation to make way for retail, restaurant or office space.

Passersby watched Thursday morning as an excavator demolished a portion of the former Solid Image Fitness building that closed last year. According to Gene Spradlin, superintendent with WatsonBruhn General Contractors, the remaining building space at 200 N. Airport Road will be leased to accommodate a variety of businesses.

Spradlin's team was busy Thursday renovating the interior of the building and destroying certain items, such as mirrors on the walls, wooden boards and fixtures.

A sign outside the building reads the property is now owned by Birmingham real estate firm Shannon Waltchack. The Daily Mountain Eagle did not receive a comment about the property from the firm by press time; however, according to the Shannon Waltchack website, the building will provide a 1,500 to 10,540 square foot space, with drive thru availability. The company's website shows an architectural drawing of the property, with a proposal to have it split into three distinct spaces of 4,000, 5,000 and 1,500 square feet.

A renovated parking lot will also be part of the project.

Jasper Mayor David O'Mary said he is happy to see work being done at the property that will eventually provide more employment opportunities and retail and/or dining choices for the city's residents.

"We support this and wish them much success," O'Mary said. "I believe they have a very good vision for the property."

It is unknown when renovations to the property will be completed.