IE Business Daily Business news for the Inland Empire.
Dignitaries from San Bernardino’s business and government communities gathered at the San Bernardino Auto Center Monday to mark that facility’s long-planned renovation.
No wrecking balls struck concrete, but several officials – including Cliff Cummings, owner and chief executive officer of Toyota of San Bernardino – posed for a photograph holding golden sledge hammers in front of the former Scion building at 605 Auto Center Drive, one of several structures slated for demolition.
“This another step in the resurgence of San Bernardino,” Cummings told the crowd of about 125. “We’re all trying to make this city a success, to make it a better place, and we’re going to get there.”
Cummings plans to remove several buildings and rearrange his properties – starting with the former Scion building and the one-time Cadillac facility at 1406 Camino Real – also at the auto center, which is north of the Interstate 10-Interstate 215 interchange.
All told, Cummings plans to spend $60 to $65 million in infrastructure improvements renovating much of the auto center, to the delight of San Bernardino officials.
“We are sending a message, and that message is that San Bernardino is a good place to do business,” Mayor John Valdivia said. “We thank Cliff Cummings and his family for what they’re doing for the community.”
Cummings said he hopes to get the entire renovation done in 14 months.
