TAMPA — November 13, 2026 -- LA Fitness has opened a club of about 30,000 square feet under its ELEVATE concept at RITHM at Uptown, the redevelopment of the former University Mall at 2170 E. Fowler Avenue, RD Management announced. The approximately $12.5 million construction investment works out to roughly $417 per square foot, by our calculation.
ELEVATE club divides its floor space into specialized training zones
The club includes a Reformer Pilates studio, a HYROX functional training area, and LIFT, an expanded free-weight space with a Rogue Rig system, Olympic benches and lifting platforms. It also offers personal training, locker rooms and instructor-led group fitness classes.
Mike Carroll, Co-CEO of RD Management, said LA Fitness chose RITHM for the market debut of the ELEVATE concept. The release does not say who funds the $12.5 million or how many ELEVATE clubs LA Fitness plans to open.
LA Fitness joins Sprouts and Burlington at The Shoppes at RITHM
The gym adds to a retail lineup at The Shoppes at RITHM that already includes Sprouts Farmers Market and Burlington. Portillo's, Miller's Ale House and RaceTrac are joining the development. LongHorn Steakhouse, KFC and Panda Express are already established tenants.
Student housing plans put nearly 5,000 beds in five communities near USF
RITHM sits near the University of South Florida. Its student housing portfolio, which includes developments with Core Spaces, will total nearly 5,000 beds across five surrounding communities once complete. That averages about 1,000 beds per community, by our calculation. RD Management also plans market-rate multifamily housing but gave no timeline or unit count.
The district already hosts the University of South Florida Institute of Applied Engineering, VU Studios and Sun-Ray Cinema. Richard Birdoff, Co-CEO of RD Management, said the aim is a community where people can live, work, learn and spend leisure time.
Carroll said RD Management will continue to introduce new businesses and advance additional phases of the redevelopment.