JASON NEVEL,THE STATE JOURNAL-REGISTER, Aug 29, 2011
A proposal to move a used Mercedes-Benz dealership and repair outlet to the former Esquire theater parking lot on MacArthur Boulevard faces steep resistance from neighborhood leaders.
The owners of Robert’s Automotive, currently at 1900 S. Sixth St., filed a petition with the city two weeks ago to rezone the area from shopping and office uses to “highway business service.”
The reclassification is needed for Robert’s to build on the property. The business’ web site says it has specialized in Mercedes-Benzes sales and service for 30 years and recently added BMWs to its offerings.
At a meeting Monday night at Boardman-Smith Funeral Home, 800 South Grand Ave. W., about 35 people objected to Robert’s rezoning petition.
Restoring MacArthur Boulevard has been a pressing issue for some time. Along with the theater, the former site of K-Mart and a next-door bowling alley now sit vacant, and title-loan outlets dot the street between South Grand and Wabash avenues.
The negative response from city leaders and people in the area was surprising, according to Brian Wilbern, assistant general manager at Robert’s. He said the company will sell nicer cars on the property.
“I don’t understand why they would rather have an empty parking lot and wait for somebody to develop it,” he said. “It’s going to be very nice.”
The petition filed with the city by Robert’s covers what once was the theater’s overflow parking lot south of the theater building. In the petition, Robert’s said it would build a six- to eight-bay garage, along with an office area.
The request will be discussed by the Springfield Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 21.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 