TOWN OF MANLIUS – An electric vehicle dealership is eyeing the former site of Fayetteville Dodge on North Burdick Street.
Last week, Anthony Rojas of in-ARCHITECTS of Syracuse presented the town of Manlius Planning Board with a site plan for the new dealership. Under the plans, the two existing buildings on the site would be retained and freshened up with a new look and a 16,000 square foot expansion would be added to the back of the main building.
Rojas said the brand of vehicle will remain private until plans are finalized. However, it is unlikely to be Tesla or one of the other new electric vehicle companies that center their business model around direct-to-consumer sales.
In New York State, new vehicles purchased on site must be sold through independent dealers, rather than directly from the manufacturer, a model that Tesla has long avoided. Tesla was granted a carve out in 2014 allowing the company to establish five retail locations downstate, but legislation that would allow Tesla to expand retail locations upstate has stalled.
Assemblyman Al Stirpe said last week that that legislation isn’t going anywhere this session, and suggested it is likely the dealership proposed on North Burdick Street would specialize in sales and service of the electric vehicles offered by a traditional auto manufacturer.
The planning board will revisit the project at a public hearing scheduled for Sept. 26. Initially, planning board members appeared to look favorably on the plans.
“It’s consistent with prior usage and we’re moving into the more modern era,” said planning board Chairman Joe Lupia.