Luxury auto dealer Mercedes-Benz of Jacksonville is starting to renovate its Arlington dealership center.
The city issued a permit May 6 for a $292,000 start to the project as it continues reviewing applications for demolition, site work, construction and renovation of the dealership at 10231 Atlantic Blvd.
The dealership will be open and operational during construction, Mercedes-Benz of Jacksonville General Manager Barry Lamb said in August.
“Jacksonville is growing, so we need to grow too,” he said.
A permit application submitted in October shows that Fields Motorcars of Florida Inc. estimated a potential $10.67 million investment to demolish, rebuild and renovate its Mercedes-Benz of Jacksonville sales and pre-owned vehicles buildings in Arlington.
The project description says it comprises a 68,665-square-foot, two-story automotive dealership and service center.
RLH Construction LLC of Oviedo is the contractor for the renovation of the existing automotive dealership and service center and a new showroom addition with new vehicle delivery and administration areas.
Prosser Inc. of Jacksonville is the civil engineer. Atlanta-based PRAXIS3 is the architect.
12-month project
Lamb said in August that he hoped to break ground by early 2024 for construction that would take an estimated 12 months.
He said the new store “will be much bigger to accommodate our rapidly expanding business.”
JEA reviewed a service availability request for Fields Auto Group on 13.69 acres at the address.
Lamb said the new car dealership, the pre-owned dealership and the service building will be connected, combining what had been three separate buildings into one large one, “which will make it more convenient for the customers.”
“It will end up making us a destination more than ever,” Lamb said.
Some existing structures and parking lots will remain.
The base permit master permit is the October permit for the $10.67 million project.
The city also is reviewing a demolition permit for Jacksonville-based ELEV8 Demolition and a site-work permit for RLH Construction, each under the base permit $10.67 million job cost.
The Duval County Property Appraiser shows that Fields Motorcars of Florida, based in Winter Park, bought the property in 2016 from Brumos Motor Cars Inc.
The dealership buildings were developed in 1971 through 2000 from 10211 to 10251 Atlantic Blvd.
Fields also owns Lexus of Jacksonville at 10259 Atlantic Blvd. next to Mercedes-Benz.
Fields Auto Group has nine Cadillac, Jaguar, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche dealerships and a collision center in Northeast Florida.
It is working toward two new centers for Mercedes-Benz and Porsche in World Commerce Center in St. Johns County.
More project details
The project description says it comprises a 68,665-square-foot, two-story automotive dealership and service center.
The project is a new showroom addition with new vehicle delivery and administration areas and renovation of the existing dealership and service center.
The existing pre-owned and new vehicle dealership and a portion of the existing service drive canopy on site will be removed. The existing service center and a portion of the service drive canopy structure will remain and be integrated into the new facility. The existing service center exterior finishes will be refreshed to complement the new facility.
Interior improvements include new vehicle and Sprinter van showrooms and a new vehicle delivery area, sales floor and offices, staff break room and support areas, customer restrooms and service adviser offices.
The description says the existing service center will provide additional restrooms, service adviser stations, customer waiting areas, administrative offices and support spaces, parts warehouse, tech center and support spaces, and a service shop with 27 service bays.
The existing interior finishes will remain and the existing service center shall be upgraded to include a new fire-sprinkler system.