If you've driven by where Rand and Lake Cook Roads meet lately, you have seen six acres of wide open land ready for development.

The Patrick Dealer Group recently cleared the property at the southeast corner of the intersection, and a spring groundbreaking is planned for a new 35,000 square foot Patrick Hyundai dealership at the location. 

"The site has been completely cleared and we are anticipating excavation to start by March 1, weather permitting," said Martin Stilwell, chief operating officer for The Patrick Dealer Group. 

The goal, Stilwell said, is to have the dealership up and running by December 1 of this year.

In addition to selling new Hyundai's, and used cars of all makes and models, the dealership also will include a full service body shop on site, as well as a full service and parts department.

Building permits are currently be reviewed by the Village of Palatine. Plans regarding ingress and egress to the high-traffic intersection are being worked through with Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, who has jurisdiction over Lake Cook Road and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) who has jurisdiction of Rand Road. 

Though Patrick Dealer Group is still working through the approval process, it is expected there will be full acess into the dealeship from Rand Road, and partial access off of Lake Cook Road. 

Patick Dealer Group has a more than 100 year background in the automotive industry. Hanley Dawson, the man who started it all, met Henry Ford in the early 1900's when he was a bank teller. Dawnson worked in a bank across from Ford's manufacturing plant in Detroit, Michigan.

The two formed a relationship, and Dawson began to sell cars that were Ford trade-ins, on consigment. He then began to sell new cars for Ford, and was awarded his first Ford dealership in Detroit in 1907, Stilwell said. 

Hanley Dawson Jr. took over the business in the 1950's, and today Hanley Dawson III is at the helm of his family's business. 

There are currently eight Patrick Dealer Group franchises in four Illinois locations, and the new dealership coming to Palatine will be their ninth. 

"We think this is a great corner and are looking forward to being part of the Palatine community," Stilwell said. 

For more information, visit www.patrickcars.com.