The Bally Health Club in Aventura held swim classes for toddlers, that is until the pool was shut down by the Health Department -- along with the spa. Also, the Health Department told Bally's Health Club to clean the bathrooms. Friends say at times you can find 3 or 4 treadmills out of order for weeks. They have called the club dingy.
Jeff Burnside of NBC Channel 6 did an investigative report called: "Aventura's Bally Total Filthiness Gym", that aired Friday, on the leaks and moldy ceiling at Bally's Health Club. These unhealthy conditions have existed for a year or more. Here are some of his findings and some more photos:
This is part of Jeff Burnside's script for his Channel 6 investigative report on the Bally's Health Club:
EMILIO FYFFE, HEALTH CLUB MEMBER:
"It's horrible. I mean the conditions are horrible."
THAT WAS THE SENTIMENT…FROM MOST OF THE HEALTH CLUB MEMBERS WE MET OUTSIDE THE BALLY TOTAL FITNESS IN AVENTURA.
WHY?
THESE PHOTOS SHOW WHY (Readers: These are different photos taken Monday of what was described in the report).
TAKEN BY AN UNHAPPY MEMBER, THEY SHOW LEAKS. MISSING CEILING SQUARES. GARBAGE CANS CATCHING WATER EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT RAINING. MOLD AND MILDEW AROUND THE AIR CONDITIONING DUCTS. AND MUCH MORE OFF CAMERA. SO MUCH SO MEMBERS TOLD US THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR HEALTH.
EVEN THE ROOF SHOWED SIGNS OF DISREPAIR DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.
Guy #1:
"And the pool is horrible. I don't know if you've been there. It's supposed to be blue and it's yellow."
TONY COLMENARES, HEALTH CLUB MEMBER:
"We've been coming here a long time and we've seen the deterioration over time."
BALLY MANAGERS DECLINED AN INTERVIEW.
BUT A SPOKESPERSON SAID "WE ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WE ARE WORKING WITH THE LANDLORD TO GET THE NECESSARY PROBLEMS FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE."
BURNSIDE OUTSIDE AVENTURA CITY HALL:
"NOT SOON ENOUGH FOR SOME HEALTH CLUB MEMBERS OR CODE INSPECTORS HERE AT AVENTURA CITY HALL WHO CONFIRM THE BLAME GOES NOT ON BALLY TOTAL FITNESS BUT ON THE BUILDING OWNER."
THE CITY HAS FINED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE YEARS FOR LEAKS, DISREPAIR, ELECTRICAL WIRES - INCLUDING ONE SINGLE VIOLATION OF MORE THAN $14,000. IN FACT, SO FRUSTRATED ARE CITY INSPECTORS THAT THE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED TO COME INSPECT THE POOL. (Thank you Jeff Burnside for supplying the script from your report on Bally's Health Club, and Jeff, as you can see - the pool has been closed after your report.)
6 comments:
It sounds gross. Why would anyone stay a member of such a health club?
http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local-beat/Bally_s_Total_Filthiness_Miami.html
Thanks reader...I am glad there is a link now-- I put it in my blog.
it is gross. I use to swim there, in fact just last Saturday I wrote an email to Bally's complaining about the situation. The water was like 78 degrees most of the times, but not all of them are like that, in fact the Bally's in Plantation is amazing, truly clean and the pool is crystal clear. I am glad they shut this a%#hole down
Don't worry. The end of the recession is here. Bally's will revive. It's all going to be good.
it's too bad it's NOT the fault of Bally otherwise it would be easy to get them out... the Landlord is the one STOPPING them from continuing the repairs... do an expose on that tool and get what is really going on
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