HUNTINGTON BEACH : City to Pursue Plan for Auto Center

The City Council this week agreed to pursue a plan that would consolidate three of the city’s car dealers into a mini-auto center off the San Diego Freeway.

After months of study and meetings with the city’s auto dealers, city staff members recommended that a small auto center be established on a 9-acre tract near the Huntington Center, on the south side of Edinger Avenue off Beach Boulevard.

City officials, however, ruled out the original proposal to move all of the city’s 13 auto dealers, now headquartered along Beach Boulevard, into a single auto mall.

Because of a shortage of property in an acceptable location, the auto mall plan could not be executed, city officials said.

Of the city’s 13 auto dealers, 10 expressed interest in moving to an auto mall, similar to centers that have thrived in Cerritos, Irvine and other cities. But some of the dealers are hesitant to relocate now because of the recession and many are in the middle of their current lease terms, officials said.

But three dealers--Roger Miller Honda, Terry York Ford and DeLillo Chevrolet--all have leases due to expire soon and hope to relocate into a center at the site.

To help promote the mini-auto mall and dealerships on Beach Boulevard, the city would install an electronic sign next to the San Diego Freeway.