Article written by Carmen R. Austin, MBA, CCIM of Saurage Commercial Real Estate
Today the former Toyota Dealership located at 13000 Florida Boulevard in Baton Rouge was sold for $1,500,000. The seller, Robert Levis, was represented in the transaction by Carmen Austin, MBA, CCIM and Hank Saurage, CCIM of Saurage Commercial Real Estate. The property has been vacant for quite some time and was last occupied by the FBI following Hurricane Katrina and prior to that was leased to Warner Brothers during the filming of the Dukes of Hazard movie in 2004. The property was purchased by Matt McKay President of All Star Automotive Group who says the building will be used as a second dealership location for All Star Kia of Baton Rouge and a collision center as well as to house a consolidation of All Star’s administrative offices. The property consists of 9.2 Acres and over 51,000 square feet in improvements. This will mark the eleventh dealership location in Louisiana for McKay.
Carmen has been a practicing commercial real estate broker with Saurage Commercial Real Estate since 2001. She is a graduate of the Louisiana State University (LSU) E.J. Ourso College of Business and the LSU Flores Masters of Business Administration (MBA) Program with a specialization in Entrepreneurship and Real Estate Finance Her experience includes past employment as Regional Director of Leasing at Commercial Properties Realty Trust the for-profit arm of the Baton Rouge Area Foundation. Carmen’s affiliations include Louisiana REALTORS®, Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS® Commercial Investment Division, International Council of Shopping Centers, Commercial Real Estate Women, Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute, National Association of REALTORS®, and Urban Land Institute. She is also an active volunteer on the board of directors for the Baton Rouge Gallery, LSU MBA Alumni Association, Junior Achievement of Baton Rouge, and the Junior League of Baton Rouge.
Hank obtained his Real Estate Sales License in 1984, followed shortly thereafter by his Real Estate Brokers License in 1986 and then his Real Estate Brokers License in Mississippi in 1997. In 1990, Hank earned the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) designation from the Commercial Investment Real Estate Council.Saurage Company, Inc dba Saurage Commercial Real Estate was founded in Baton Rouge in 1991 with the purpose of providing exceptional real estate services with an emphasis on commercial property and property management. Saurage Commercial Real Estate offers to its clients a full range of real estate services including brokerage, investment advising, development consulting, REO disposition specialists, asset management, fee based consulting, tenant representation, and buyer representation. The staff of professionals includes combined experience of 50 years, as well as CCIM Designees and Candidates and recipients of Master of Business Administration.
