The vacant AutoNation lot in Forest Park could become the new site of a CarMax sales center.

More than $10 million in acquisition and renovation costs would add an extra 36,000 square feet to the main showroom which would house a state-of-the-art service center.

The 28-acre site near Cincinnati Mills currently has 60,000 square feet of building space and room for 1,000 cars.

They plan on opening in early 2009 and could bring 100 full-time and 20 part-time jobs. The sales center would maintain an inventory of 500 cars.

This site is one of two local AutoNation sites that CarMax plans to redevelop. The other site is on Waterstone Boulevard in Deerfield Township.

A $60 million hotel, conference center and water park had been proposed for the site last August. While the water park idea has been dropped, the a business hotel is still on the table--likely for another site along the Winton Road corridor.

Forest Park City Council could vote on the proposal November 19.

The CarMax proposal has already been approved by city staff and the City Planning Commission.

CarMax, which is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is the largest retailer of used vehicles in the United States with 85 superstores in 38 markets.

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