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Andrew E. Voris

For more than 25 years, the location was filled with nothing but junk cars, but soon it will have the latest models.

Ward Chrysler of Carbondale is building a new car dealership in what was once a junkyard.

Carbondale economic development director Jeremy Hayes said construction has begun and the new facility, which will be owned and operated by Ron and Mark Ward, will be complete in the fall.

"We're very pleased with the investment they are making," Hayes said. "It is good to see an area that was an eyesore get converted into a new business."

The location of the new development is across from Linden Street, just north of Ward's dealership located at 1412 West Main St., Hayes said.

The location was a junkyard for more than 25 years and was recently cleared off to make way for the new project. The area became a junkyard before a zoning ordinance was established in the late '70s regulating the area from being used for auto salvage. The establishment of the ordinance, however, did not force the yard to be cleared up.

"The junkyard was essentially 'grandfathered' in," Hayes said.

When the project is complete, there will be a new building for sales and maintenance work at the new location.

The present business area facing Route 13 will be used exclusively to showcase new vehicles, Hayes said. When the staff moves into the new facility, the old building will be demolished.

B.J. Johnson, coordinator of membership and events for the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, said the business needed more space.

"They are in a sort of cramped area," Johnson said.

Mark Ward told the City of Carbondale that after the expansion, the business would have the capacity to take on 10 more employees, Hayes said. The projected cost of the development is $1.5 million.

In early June, the Carbondale City Council voted to have Linden Street resurfaced and to fund the extension of water and sewer lines to the new location. The council had previously voted to extend the city enterprise zone to include the dealership site. The enterprise zone allows new business projects to receive some tax benefits in the first few years of operation.

Carbondale City Councilman Joel Fritzler said he thinks the project is good for that commercial area.

"I think there's a lot of people who don't even know there is a Chrysler dealership there," Fritzler said, "So it will be good for their business."

Reporter Andrew E. Voris can be reached at andrew_voris@dailyegyptian.com