LOS ANGELES—The Shammas Group and Trammell Crow have broken ground on an expansion and renovation of the existing Toyota Dealership in Downtown Los Angeles. The new facility is a four-tier, 290,000-square-foot facility with a two-story showroom along Figueroa. Shammas Group has owned the property for three years and has seen a 126% increase in sales, which incentivized the renovations. The project will be completed in fall 2017.

“The Shammas Group has owned and operated dealerships in Downtown Los Angeles for more than 60 years, and currently owns 8 dealerships,” Abbey Ehman, a senior associate at Trammell Crow, tells GlobeSt.com. “In 2012 the Shammas Group purchased Toyota of Downtown LA and in that time the store has seen 126% growth in sales. The current facility is located just a few blocks north of the project site, but the growth meant that the operations have outgrown their current location.  The Shammas Group has owned the project site for decades, and made the decision to relocate and expand the Toyota Dealership to allow for the continued growth.”

Toyota of Downtown Los Angeles is located on a 1.6-acre site at the corner of Figueroa and Washington, and is a major contributor to the Downtown economy, according to the Shammas Group. It employs more than 300 people and has contributed $23 million in sales tax since its purchase in 2012. The owner says that the renovations will allow them to better serve its customers and help to drive further growth.

In addition to being an indicator of the strength of the auto market, this renovation also shows another side of the downtown renaissance. “Any investment in DTLA is representative of the continued growth, and this project represents a significant investment by ownership,” adds Ehman. “Historically the Figueroa Corridor was Auto Row of downtown Los Angeles.  The recently completed Mercedes Dealership, also owned by the Shammas Group, and the new Toyota dealership signify a resurgence of the historic use but reflect the evolution of the vehicle industry.  It is important to note that this project will set a new bar for urban dealerships, with a façade that meets the street flanked by wide sidewalks.”

Trammell Crow is developing the building; along with architect is PDS Architects, contractor ConAm Building Co. and architectural services and interior design by Ware Malcomb. Toyota Financial Services is funding the project through Toyota Motors Credit Corp.

LOS ANGELES—The Shammas Group and Trammell Crow have broken ground on an expansion and renovation of the existing Toyota Dealership in Downtown Los Angeles. The new facility is a four-tier, 290,000-square-foot facility with a two-story showroom along Figueroa. Shammas Group has owned the property for three years and has seen a 126% increase in sales, which incentivized the renovations. The project will be completed in fall 2017.

“The Shammas Group has owned and operated dealerships in Downtown Los Angeles for more than 60 years, and currently owns 8 dealerships,” Abbey Ehman, a senior associate at Trammell Crow, tells GlobeSt.com. “In 2012 the Shammas Group purchased Toyota of Downtown LA and in that time the store has seen 126% growth in sales. The current facility is located just a few blocks north of the project site, but the growth meant that the operations have outgrown their current location.  The Shammas Group has owned the project site for decades, and made the decision to relocate and expand the Toyota Dealership to allow for the continued growth.”

Toyota of Downtown Los Angeles is located on a 1.6-acre site at the corner of Figueroa and Washington, and is a major contributor to the Downtown economy, according to the Shammas Group. It employs more than 300 people and has contributed $23 million in sales tax since its purchase in 2012. The owner says that the renovations will allow them to better serve its customers and help to drive further growth.

In addition to being an indicator of the strength of the auto market, this renovation also shows another side of the downtown renaissance. “Any investment in DTLA is representative of the continued growth, and this project represents a significant investment by ownership,” adds Ehman. “Historically the Figueroa Corridor was Auto Row of downtown Los Angeles.  The recently completed Mercedes Dealership, also owned by the Shammas Group, and the new Toyota dealership signify a resurgence of the historic use but reflect the evolution of the vehicle industry.  It is important to note that this project will set a new bar for urban dealerships, with a façade that meets the street flanked by wide sidewalks.”

Trammell Crow is developing the building; along with architect is PDS Architects, contractor ConAm Building Co. and architectural services and interior design by Ware Malcomb. Toyota Financial Services is funding the project through Toyota Motors Credit Corp.