The dealership will locate on this vacant tract of land on Route 2325 next to San Souci Plaza
Lexington Park, MD — A big hole will be occurring soon in the Great Mills Road commercial corridor. Lexington Park Ford will be moving from its current location and constructing a new building at 22667 Three Notch Road in California on 21.44 acres between San Souci Plaza and Two Guys Auto Body.
Lexington Park Ford is owned by Kody Holdings, LLC, headquartered in Waldorf. It operates nine auto franchises in four brands and has locations in Leonardtown, Prince Frederick, Waldorf and Upper Marlboro.
A Ford dealership, called Eskridge Ford, was established on Great Mills Road in 1953 and was purchased by brothers Lewie Aldridge, Sr. and Paul Aldridge, Sr. in 1961. It remained Aldridge Ford until it was sold by the family in 2007.
Along the way many members of the Aldridge family worked there including Lewie Aldridge, Jr. He told The Bay Net that a portion of the original building remains but has been expanded and remodeled a number of times.
The Aldridge boys were from North Carolina and purchased the car dealership from Mr. Eskridge’s widow, Aldridge said. Because of their North Carolina mountain roots, the dealership often advertised itself as the “Home of the Hillbilly Deal.”
The St. Mary’s County Planning Commission April 13 unanimously approved the concept site plan for the new location on Three Notch Road (Route 235). Two homes owned by the Armsworthy family and a mobile home will remain from a large tract of land owned by the family that included what is now San Souci Plaza.
There will be two entrances off Route 235 onto the property, one just for the dealership (and the mobile home) and the other shared by the dealership and the two Armsworthy homes. Planning Commission Chairman Howard Thompson told the dealership representatives that the Armsworthy family has been there a long time and their needs should be heard.
Michelle Armsworthy, speaking for the family, expressed concern about people cutting through their property from the dealership and from San Souci Plaza. Thompson suggested a gate with access only to the family to prevent such a situation. Tom Kody, representing the dealership, said they were just as concerned about people being on their property after hours and promised to work with the family.
The 45,648-square-foot building will house the Ford dealership and an expanded Lincoln dealership. It would have unique facades to designate each brand. The building will house showrooms, sales and reception, parts and service.
The county has offered the developer the option of donating land for the future FDR Boulevards instead of making a fee payment for traffic mitigation. Consulting engineer Jim Gotsch of Soltesz said the land donation would be preferable to his client. Their only proviso is they would like access to the rear of the property from FDR Boulevard.
The proposed plan does require a front buffer yard variance from the St. Mary’s Board of Appeals. Regulations require 65 feet. The developer is proposing 35 feet. Gotsch said the request is in recognition of what other properties along the road actually have. He said a lot of property had been taken by state highway for the road widening and they needed extra space for their parking and building requirements.
Contact Dick Myers at news@thebaynet.com