Reading — Test 12

Reading passage

FITZONE OPENS DOWNTOWN, BUT NOT EVERYONE IS CHEERING Last week, FitZone, a 24-hour fitness chain, opened its newest location on Bloor Street, replacing the hardware store that had stood there for over thirty years. The company promotes the new gym as a "community wellness hub," complete with a climbing wall, spin studio, and a rooftop patio for outdoor workouts. Management says it expects to create forty part-time jobs and hopes to draw members from across the neighbourhood. We asked readers what they thought. "I've been waiting years for a decent gym in this area," writes Priya Nandan. "Before FitZone, the closest option was a fifteen-minute drive. Now I can walk there after work. My only complaint is that the introductory membership rate jumps by 40 percent after the first three months, which feels like a bait-and-switch." Not everyone is celebrating. Community organizer Dale Whitfield argues the gym's arrival signals a troubling pattern. "We've lost a hardware store that families relied on for basic repairs," he writes. "In its place, we get another business aimed at people who can already afford $70-a-month memberships. Where do lower-income residents fit into this new downtown?" Retired teacher Corinne Beaulieu takes a middle stance. "I understand Dale's concern about affordability, but I also think a gym encourages healthier habits, and that benefits everyone in the long run, including our overtaxed healthcare system. Perhaps the city could have negotiated discounted memberships for seniors and low-income families as a condition of approving the lease." Longtime resident Marcus Oduya, who works construction, is frustrated for a different reason. "Nobody consulted us before this went up," he writes. "There was a public notice buried on a city website, but no real community meeting. That's not genuine consultation. If the city keeps approving projects this way, resentment toward new businesses will only grow, even ones that might actually benefit us." FitZone's regional manager says the company plans to offer two free community fitness classes each month, though no schedule has yet been announced.

Question 1 of 9