SYLVANIA TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Les Breininger owns Sylvania Auto Restyling & Glass in Sylvania Township. He works with multiple car dealerships up and down Holland-Sylvania Road and said CarMax, the used-car superstore, moving in could provide more business.
"It was going to be a pretty good thing for us if they showed up," Breininger said. "It would bring in some instant business for us."
The CarMax lot is right behind his shop near the corner of Central Avenue and Holland-Sylvania Road.
Breininger said in the past there have been some issues with it, including someone living on the property.
"One point in time where there was a guy that parked a motor home there, and he was basically squatting on the property," he said.
Breininger reached out to Sylvania Township about the issue. Township Trustee John Jennewine said semi-trucks would also park in the lot and CarMax has been quick to fix any issues.
"We addressed it with them I think they put up the barriers at all of the entrances, so that eliminated all of that," Jennewine said.
Even though there has been no development on the property, Lucas County Auditor Katie Moline said the company that bought the site of the former K-Mart in Sylvania Township is all paid up on taxes.
Moline told WTOL 11 that CarMax bought the property in May of 2012 and has already paid this year’s property taxes in full. She also said the company paid full-year taxes in the first half of the last five years. She pointed out that AREIS, a digital database of Lucas County properties, only goes back five years for taxes.
She said CarMax paid $69,540.74 for the year.
Zoning Manager Daryl Graus said the township is getting some of the taxes, but could benefit more if CarMax moved in.
"It obviously would be more if the property were developed," Graus said.
Since 2013, Carmax has sent site development plans to Sylvania Township. Last year, the township approved plans through March 2025, but no zoning permit for construction has been filed.
Jennewine and Graus said while they would like to see some development, their hands are tied.
"If they're following our rules and regulations then we don't really feel we have a say in this," Jennewine said.
CarMax provided WTOL 11 with the following statemen regarding the property:
"We are constantly evaluating new markets and existing markets as we grow. We've identified this location as a potential good fit for our current growth plan, however, we don't have any additional details at this time."
Breininger said he hopes to see something happen soon.
"Anything would be better than a vacant lot," he said.