TESLA DEAL SHIFTS FOCUS

THE owner of the former BMW headquarters on the fringe of the Southport CBD has put the balance of the property up for lease in the wake of snaring the Tesla group as the major tenant.

It was last week that the diversified US energy and electric-car maker was setting up a showroom and service centre in 60 per cent of motor-industry veteran Bruce Lynton’s property.

The holding, with which Mr Lynton has had a 46-year relationship, was put on the market in 2016.

The move was on the heels of the Lynton family selling its

BMW dealership, with the new dealer leasing the property for 2.5 years prior to new premises being prepared.

Beric Lynton on Thursday said in the wake of the Tesla lease, the property no longer actively was being marketed.

“Instead, we’re concentrating on filling the balance of the space, which is in two adjoining buildings at the eastern end of the site,” he said.

“Obviously, having Tesla as a neighbour, along with a prime Nerang St frontage, would be a boon for any business

“We already have had interest from two dealers in the luxury used-car business, along with a big-name gym operator.”

The available area takes in 931sq m of showroom space and a 466sq m mezzanine area, which includes offices and a boardroom and comes with a courtyard and a parking area.

Tesla’s lease spans 2330sq m and includes the showroom at the western end of the site.

The rate Tesla is paying has not been disclosed but the lease is for seven years with two five-year options.

The Lynton site spans 5968sq m bounded by Nerang, High and Suter streets and has an unlimited height zoning — it is within Southport’s priority development area.