As the Larry H. Miller Dealerships chain continues to expand its sales and service facilities here, a real estate affiliate submitted a pre-development application to the city of Spokane for a proposed new building on west Third Avenue for its Honda dealership.

Estimated to cost $3.5 million, the new Larry H. Miller Honda dealership building would be developed at 1208 W. Third. The company’s Toyota Scion dealership had been located at that site, and all but 15,000 square feet of that structure would be demolished to make way for new construction. The Toyota dealership plans to move to a new building being constructed on the site of the former Honda dealership, at 1125 W. Second. 

The application, submitted by John Mahoney Architect LLC, of Tempe, Ariz., on behalf of Sandy, Utah-based Miller Family Real Estate LLC, calls for construction of 36,000 square feet of new space. The new building would include automotive showroom facilities and office space. The pre-development application calls for automated car wash bays, auto detailing bays and a service department.

The architectural firm representing Miller Family Real Estate couldn’t be reached for comment, but said in the application that the owner wants to begin construction in August 2016.

The new construction is part of Miller Family Real Estate’s master plan for its downtown properties. Miller Family Real Estate manages properties for the Larry H. Miller Group of Companies, which includes 80 different businesses.

Larry H. Miller Dealerships owns and operates Larry H. Miller Honda, Larry H. Miller Lexus, and Larry H. Miller Toyota Scion downtown. The company also owns Larry H. Miller Hyundai dealership, at 8801 E. Sprague in Spokane Valley.

Larry H. Miller Dealerships last fall finished construction of its new Lexus facility at 1030 W. Third. The company is using temporary facilities and vacant lots downtown until all new construction is complete.

Larry H. Miller Dealerships has been doing business in Spokane since 2009 and employs 259 people. The company has said it plans to add more employees when the new Honda and Toyota dealerships are completed.