A real estate investor plans to build a car wash on land he bought in Waterford of the Carolinas’ commercial area.

Scott Baker of Carolina Shores Properties LLC said Thursday that construction for the 5,000-square-foot express exterior tunnel car wash is expected to begin in the next few weeks.

His company purchased the 2.05 acres at 2040 Old Regent Way in front of the Harris Teeter for $850,000 in November from Exum Holdings LLC. Bert Exum is the developer of Waterford of the Carolinas, a 575-acre master planned development.

Baker said he chose that location because it’s a high-traffic zone.

“The area seemed to be underserved in this market and it just seemed to make sense for what we’re trying to do, for our vision,” Baker said.

Although he has never owned a car wash before, Baker’s family operates a car dealership in Christiansburg, Virginia. He had lived in the Wilmington area when he was younger.

“I started a real estate holding company in Wilmington about two years ago, and so my real estate holding company is what brought me back to the area,” Baker said. “I actually live in Waterford as well . . .  I saw some things that were not in the town that would be quite helpful to people in the town, so a car wash was one of the first things we jumped on.”

His company has also renovated homes in Wilmington and converted them into rental properties, Baker said.

In addition to the tunnel, the Leland car wash will include a 35-foot tower for offices and more than 20 vacuums, the use of which is included in the price of a car wash, he said.

Baker said he plans to hire about six to eight employees, a number that could grow, and have the car wash open by May of next year.

Don Harley, a broker with Coldwell Banker Commercial Sun Coast Partners, represented Exum Holdings LLC and Baker in the sale of the land.