HOUSTON – (Realty News Report) – Grubbs Automotive is expanding into the Houston market with plans to develop a Volvo dealership on Washington Avenue, near Old Katy Road and north of Interstate 10. The location sits close to Houston’s centrally located Memorial Park and is well-positioned within a growing commercial corridor.
Grubbs Automotive has signed a 20-year ground lease for a 2.45-acre property that was formerly occupied by Western Brick & Stone. The land is owned by Levcor, a Houston-based real estate firm led by Larry Levine, who brings extensive experience in shopping center development. John Hoag represented Levcor in negotiating the ground lease.
Representing Grubbs Automotive were Jeff Peden and Scott Miller of Transwestern Real Estate Services, working alongside Bill Bledsoe of Henry S. Miller in Dallas. Peden, a veteran land specialist, noted the strategic value of the site as Washington Avenue continues to experience positive growth.
“As Washington Ave. continues to experience new, positive growth, this is an excellent addition to the area,” Peden said. “We were pleased to work with Bill Bledsoe and his client to help Grubbs Automotive establish its first presence in Houston.”
Grubbs Automotive intends to convert the existing 12,595-square-foot showroom at 7620 Washington Ave. and the adjacent 19,250-square-foot warehouse into a Volvo dealership. The property, built in 2008 using concrete deck construction, is fully sprinklered and suited for conversion to an automotive retail and service facility.
Transwestern highlighted that the site lies within a local “design district” that hosts multiple home design showrooms and interior design firms, enhancing the area’s commercial synergy. Nearby, Hines has developed Somerset Green, a 46-acre townhome community, further contributing to local residential density and potential customer traffic.
The Old Katy Road and Washington Avenue micro-market, located inside Loop 610, is viewed as an area with significant potential. Development there has progressed incrementally over many years, prompting ongoing discussion about whether the corridor will experience a more dramatic revitalization. The arrival of Grubbs Automotive’s Volvo dealership represents a notable vote of confidence in the corridor’s future prospects.
June 6, 2021 Realty News Report. Copyright 2021.
About Houston real estate: For a deeper look at Houston’s growth and real estate trends, Ralph Bivins’ book Houston 2020: America’s Boom Town – An Extreme Close Up offers further perspective on the city’s development and opportunities.
Image: Courtesy Transwestern
Files: Grubbs Automotive Volvo Dealer Enters Houston with Washington Ave. Dealership. Transwestern; Old Katy Road. Washington Avenue. Grubbs Automotive Volvo Dealer Enters Houston. Transwestern. Jeff Peden. Henry S. Miller. Scott Miller. Western Brick & Stone. Larry Levine. Levcor.