Tempe Autoplex Almost Out of Land

TEMPE, AZ-SunCor Development Co. of Arizona has hawked all but eight acres of the 81-acre Tempe Autoplex. The latest transaction has brought $1.5 million for a three-acre tract and an expansion site for Tempe Honda.

The Automotive Group Realty LLC is the buyer of record. The tract does not abut Tempe Honda’s 6.3 acres at 7900 S. Autoplex Loop in the auto mall, but it’s close enough.

Rick Breuer of the Phoenix office of Sperry Van Ness Mullin tells GlobeSt.com that the SunCor project, which got under way in 1987, is the only true autoplex property in metro Phoenix. The name varies–autoplex, auto row or auto mall–but it’s all the same in meaning as the concept grows in popularity across the US. Breuer says studies show 25% to 30% more sales are generated by dealers in auto parks as opposed to the more traditional storefront dealerships. The increased numbers are directly linked to consumer convenience, dealership synergy and economies of scale in advertising for the plethora of dealers. The Tempe Autoplex has an association, which handles some group advertising for the dealers.

Breuer and partner, Jim Mullin, handled both sides of the sale. The duo specializes in automotive properties across the nation.

The Tempe Autoplex is positioned at the intersection of Interstate 10 and Elliot Road. Its other dealerships are Brown & Brown Nissan, Coulter Cadillac Oldsmobile GMC Pontiac Buick, Daewoo of Tempe, Jack Ross Lincoln Mercury, Saturn of Tempe, Tempe Dodge/Kia, Tempe Mitsubishi, Tempe Toyota and Hyundai of Tempe.