HardKohr Sports & Fitness in York Township is changing ownership, but the new and old guard agree the switch will only yield positive results for the gym's members.

"It's going to be a smooth transition, and we're making a better facility for the community," said owner Jim Kohr.

Kohr bought the Yorktowne Racquet, Fitness and Sports Complex in 2008, and was awarded a lease that granted him the right to buy the land and building at 2810 E. Prospect Road, where the fitness center is based. That property is owned by Heritage Hills Golf Resort & Conference Center.

Heritage Hills owner Matt DeRose and Kohr both wanted the property, leading to four years of litigation that ultimately determined Kohr had the right to buy the land and building.

And though Kohr came up with the $210,000 needed for a nonrefundable deposit to secure the property, he said he couldn't get the rest of the financing in place.

Because the deposit would be nonrefundable, he couldn't risk losing that money, he said.

"It was a very difficult process with many different obstacles. I could not get the project put together, and I immediately called (DeRose)," he said.

The two talked for three hours and agreed upon DeRose's ownership and an amicable, smooth transition, they said.

"We both had the same vision for the property. There was just a discrepancy over who would control it. At the end of the day, he won," Kohr said.

Everything will remain exactly the same through the remainder of the summer, they said.

Kohr will continue to run the tennis program at the fitness center throughout the summer, but his role after that is unclear, he said.

Eventually, the fitness center's name will change and become part of Heritage Hills, and DeRose said he will also add to the space.

"Long term, we'd like to add an indoor turf," said DeRose, a soccer enthusiast.

Until then, HardKohr's members won't notice any changes during what both men expect to be a seamless transition, they said.

"The lawsuit is over. There's resolution on who the owner is. Now that owner can improve the property and make it better," Kohr said.

- Reach Candy Woodall at 505-5437 or cwoodall@yorkdispatch.com.