The Buckingham Herald Tribblog: Mercedes Dealer to Redevelop

Monday, March 09, 2009

Mercedes Dealer to Redevelop

I intended to publish this story before tonight’s SPRC meeting, but that just was not to be. I was not at tonight’s meeting (I had to teach). –ST.

This view looks south on N. Glebe Road. N. Fifth Street runs to the left. (Provided by American Service Center. Click to enlarge the image.)

Earlier tonight Arlington’s Site Plan Review Committee considered plans for a redevelopment of the American Service Center Mercedes dealership at the corner of N. Glebe Road at N. Quincy Street. The dealership is proposing a six-storey building that will combine many of the of the dealership’s operations under one roof.

The dealership’s managers gave the SPRC and other stakeholders in the community a tour of the facility on Saturday in order to show what a large operation it is and what would be compiled under one roof. The dealership employees about 275 people, sold about 1,000 cars last year, and had total sales of about $170 million, said General Manager Ralph Mastantuono.

“We take a lot of pride in this place,” Mr. Mastantuono said.

At its tallest, the new building would reach about 79 feet, said officials of the project. Although portions of the property would allow this development, others require zoning changes. By comparison the Ballston Commons Mall parking lot is about 55 feet. The Hyde Park Condominium which would sit across N. Glebe from the building is about 120 feet.

Tom Lauria, Hyde Park’s vice president, wrote in an email that they have been late in coming to the discussion about this project, but that they will ask to lower the building to four storeys.