The Shammas family is planning a new Ford dealership in DTLA | Rare Techy

The scion of the Shammas family presented a plan for a car dealership in Los Angeles’ Figueroa Corridor, pioneered by family patriarch Nickolas Shammas.

Diane Shammas of Shammas Properties filed an application Nov. 17 with the Los Angeles City Planning Department to build a 353,000-square-foot Ford dealership. The proposed project is located at 500-515 West Washington Boulevard, one mile from the family’s Felix Chevrolet dealership. Nickolas Shammas bought Felix in 1957 and used the landmark Felix the Cat dealership as a springboard to build a cluster of businesses in downtown Los Angeles and the Figueroa Corridor south of downtown. The pioneering entrepreneur passed away in 2003 at the age of 87.

The strip of land between the University of Southern California and downtown Los Angeles is home to more than six sprawling car dealerships representing brands ranging from Porsche, Toyota, Nissan and Mercedes-Benz. The Ford dealership currently operates in the Figueroa Corridor at 1929 South Figueroa Street.

Emails and phone calls seeking comment from Shammas Properties and project representatives were not returned by press time.

Plans for the proposed dealership include a 10-story building that would focus on sales and service of Ford vehicles. The proposed project will replace the parking lot and the service center.

Shammas Properties’ proposal is the latest development to transform the Figueroa Corridor’s car dealerships. In August, a plan was filed to build a Porsche dealership in the 1900 block of South Figueroa Street. It would provide more space and replace the Porsche dealership currently operating across the street.