$7.4M property sale moves Tesla plans another step forward in Tacoma’s West End
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Denver-linked LLC bought 5950 N. Ninth St. in Tacoma for $7.4M.
- Permits and approved variance indicate future redevelopment for Tesla sales/service site.
- Sale underscores demand for mid-size industrial sites; property last sold in 2020.
The former Baxter Auto Parts in Tacoma’s West End has sold to an LLC affiliated with a Denver real-estate entity that has previously worked on the development of Tesla automotive sales and service sites.
The property, 5950 N. Ninth St., was sold by an Oregon-based LLC to an LLC affiliated with Drake Real Estate Services of Denver for $7.4 million, according to county records, just below the $7.5 million marketing price listed earlier this spring.
The site has an assessed value of just under $3.5 million.
The building is just off state Route 16 and behind the Highland Hill Shopping Center. The shopping center is anchored by a WinCo grocery store.
In July, The News Tribune reported on plans filed with the city for a proposed Tesla Tacoma Collision Center at the location. The site has continued to move through permitting.
The project’s land-use design variance (approved with conditions over the summer) for a 6-foot fence for the property at the time indicated vehicle service and sales use with a parking lot. The paperwork was filed by a business entity on behalf of Tesla Collision Center in Colorado.
A variance was requested because 3-foot fencing is the usual standard, per city code. According to the land-use decision, “a condition to plant street trees and shrubs in the right-of-way along North 9th Street,” is included. It also stated, “The Director would note that the code requires vehicles being stored and awaiting repair to be screened by a 6-foot tall wall or opaque screening fence.”
Austin-based Tesla has a showroom/service center at 3701 20th St. E., Fife, along northbound Interstate 5. The company also has various Supercharger stations in the area.
Another Drake-related entity filed the original Tesla dealership permit plans to Fife for that site and later sold it to a California investment entity for $28.5 million in October 2021.
The next year, Drake announced completion of a Liberty Lake Tesla service center east of Spokane.
The Tacoma property sale was recorded Oct. 15 and announced in a release issued Monday by Kidder Mathews. Matt McLennan and Chris Trussel of Kidder Mathews along with Tyler Dean of Macadam Forbes represented the seller.
“This listing generated a high volume of inquiries and showings, underscoring strong demand for stand-alone, mid-size industrial buildings,” in that market, said McLennan in the release. “A motivated buyer and aligned expectations allowed both sides to accelerate timelines and close ahead of schedule.”
The release stated, “The asset was owned by an out-of-state owner who initially sought a new tenant. After testing the market, a sale proved to be the best outcome.”
It also added that “the building offers a flexible industrial-retail configuration, 18-inch interior clearance heights, and two dock-high doors—features that broaden appeal for light distribution, showroom and service users. “
The site last sold in March 2020 for $6.1 million, county records show.
Previous reporting from The News Tribune contributed to this report.
This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
