Getahn Ward

gward@tennessean.com

Saban business partner Joe Agresti cites Nashville as being a thriving city with high growth expectations.

Nick Saban and his wife, Terry, also own 50 percent stake in the property at Interstate 40 and Briley Parkway.

The couple also own half of BIJ Motors TN LLC, which will own the operating entity for Mercedes-Benz of Music City.

University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban and his wife will own a 50 percent stake in the new Mercedes-Benz of Music City dealership planned at Interstate 40 and Briley Parkway.

Construction should begin this summer on the 60,000-square-foot dealership, which is expected to open in a year at 734 Envious Lane.

Joe Agresti, who will own the other 50 percent stake, said he and the Sabans picked Nashville for the expansion because it's a thriving city with high growth expectations.

"It will be convenient for customers," Agresti said about the 4.14-acre location on which the dealership is planned near boutique Hotel Preston. "It will be close to the airport."

Agresti, along with Nick and Terry Saban, already co-owns the Mercedes-Benz of Birmingham and Infiniti of Birmingham car dealerships in Hoover, Ala.

Agresti is CEO of The Woodlands, Texas-based Dream Motor Group, which separately is the sole owner of Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge in Louisiana and Mercedes-Benz of The Woodlands in Texas.

The Sabans also own a 50 percent stake in BIJ Motors TN LLC, the owner of the operating entity for the planned Mercedes-Benz of Music City.

BIJ Motors TN LLC will lease the 60,000-square-foot dealership building from property ownership entity JJA Properties TN LLC, in which the Alabama football coach and his wife also own a 50 percent stake.

In the summer, JJA Properties TN paid $1.7 million for the 4.14 acres at 734 Envious Lane where Mercedes-Benz of Music City is planned.

On April 28, the Metro Planning Commission is expected to consider a request for final plat approval to abandon an easement on that property, which is east of Dabbs Avenue. Engineering firm Littlejohn requested the approval on JJA Properties TN's behalf.

Sonic Automotive's Mercedes-Benz of Nashville in Franklin is the only known Mercedes-Benz dealership in the immediate Nashville area.

Reach Getahn Ward at 615-726-5968 and on Twitter @getahn.