NOTE: Reporter Tarmo Hannula also contributed to this article.
SOQUEL — Nissan has recently withdrawn its approved application to build a dealership on the corner of 41st and Soquel, Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Leopold announced Monday.
“We are starting to see new economic impacts from the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said. “After assembling numerous properties, completing and defending their EIR in court, the cost of the (Nissan) project and required infrastructure investments became too great for them to move forward, especially with the uncertainty created by the pandemic.”
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors in October approved the plan for the dealership on the 2.5-acre parcel on the corner of 41st Avenue and Soquel Drive, which would have included a 12,550-square-foot showroom and a 10,000-square-foot service area.
It would have been a relocation for the now-closed dealership at 1605 Soquel Avenue.
To prepare for construction, work crews demolished several buildings, including King’s Paint & Paper, an adjacent self-car wash and an abandoned house.
It is not clear what will happen with the vacant lot, Leopold said.
“When any new project is proposed for that corner, I will share that information with constituents to ensure that whatever is envisioned for this area has been vetted by the community,” he said.
Don Groppetti, who owns the dealership, did not return a call for comment.
