The new site, if approved by the city, is a 6.5-acre vacanttract at the northeast corner of Austin Road and Michigan Avenuecurrently zoned for general business and requiring special land useapproval for car sales business. A preliminary site plan shows anewly constructed facility for sales and service totaling 24,675sf, including 4,760 sf of showroom, 9,770 sf of office and partsspace and 10,145 sf of service shop without body work. The newproject is valued at about $3 million.

Last year, the city rejected a $4 million proposal to develop anautomotive service center--including a gas station, conveniencestore, car wash and oil change operation--at the site, which isowned by Fred and Barbara Hill. A neighborhood group rallied tostop the automotive service center, joined by the nearby St.Andrew's Catholic Church, citing traffic, pedestrian safety andaesthetic impacts.