COVINGTON, La. — Gulf States Real Estate & Development announced that construction of the Kia of Covington auto dealership is back underway at the intersection of Interstate 12 and Highway 190.
Kia franchise owner Kevin Szura paused the project last year because of rising interest rates and construction costs.
Gulf States said its construction team, led by VP Jason Reibert and President Mike Saucier, found a way to reduce project costs by roughly $500,000 to help make the project’s financing possible. Greenleaf Architects and High Tide Consultants, the site engineers, also helped plan changes, which required approval from Kia’s corporate design team.
“Although we will be entering the market six months later than we had hoped, the value engineering and financing efforts were well worth it given today’s tough business climate for new construction,” said Szura in a press release. “This project would not have been possible had we not commissioned the right team led by Gulf States to identify critical cost savings, so that I could concentrate my efforts on financing the venture.”
Szura said he hopes to open the doors to the dealership later this year.
