Lease on former Copps dealership up in 2008, Carr buys property near Vancouver Auto Mall
Carr Auto Group is acquiring property at the corner of Fourth Plain Boulevard and Northeast 66th Avenue just west of Andresen Road where it plans to relocate its downtown dealership.
Just last year, Carr purchased the Bill Copps Motors operation at the corner of Evergreen Boulevard and "C" Street. In a separate deal, Vancouver developers Killian Pacific purchased the property the dealership sits on. The half-acre site is eyed for redevelopment by Killian and the city. Carr’s lease on the site is up in June 2008.
The downtown site has been home to an auto dealership since 1917. Bill Copps assumed ownership in the late 1960s. Copps passed away in 2003. The dealership sells GMC, Pontiac, Suzuki and Cadillac vehicles.
The company has expressed interest in relocating near the Vancouver Auto Mall district and its used car lot on Fourth Plain east of Andresen, which was also purchased from the Copps family in 2004.
Carr Vice President Dan Kuske confirmed the company has purchased two lots at the proposed site and is close to completing a deal for two others. The properties will give Carr just under 4 acres, which would be enough to relocate its operation, said Kuske. The company is working with adjacent property owners to acquire another 1.5 acres.
"We would like to pick up a little more property," said Kuske.
The properties included a mix of residential and commercial uses.
Carr is in the pre-application process with the city to rezone the property from community commercial to general commercial to make way for development. Carr has included in the proposed rezone five lots north of their property owned by Columbia River Mental Health, which operates a facility on the more than 7-acre site. Azam Babar, city development review services planner, said CRMH would have to agree to the zone change to be included. CRMH plans to continue operating at the site, and Executive Director Gregory Robinson said the organization has no intention of selling its property. Several other sites east of Carr’s property and west of Andresen, including a strip mall and automotive repair shops, are not expected to be impacted by Carr’s plans.
Kuske said Carr is working with General Motors’ design team before moving forward with site plans.
Kuske said the site was chosen for its proximity to other dealerships.
"The auto mall is in our backyard," said Kuske. "Centralizing is not only good for Vancouver, but is good for all dealerships spending advertising dollars to attract customers to one area."
Carr’s other dealerships include Chevrolet and Subaru operations in Beaverton, Ore., and a Suzuki dealership in Hillsboro, Ore.
