Newly filed building permits show the developer tasked with building many of Amazon’s large warehouse and industrial centers is set to build a 1 million-square-foot sorting facility just north of the current fulfillment center at SW 89 and Portland Avenue.
Officials involved in the project, which is planned for property currently owned by the city’s airport trust, told The Oklahoman Monday they could not comment on what is dubbed “Project Glove” under terms of signed non-disclosure agreements.
Sources did confirm the new plant will employ about 1,000 people in addition to 1,700 Amazon announced last summer it was hiring for the 2.6 million-square-foot fulfillment center. The company also has a sorting facility at 1414 S Council and another at Hefner Road and Interstate 35. Employment data maintained by the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber shows the company employs 5,000 full-time, part-time and seasonal workers in Oklahoma City.
The plans submitted with the city show the new facility includes 354 tractor trailer parking spaces and 1,007 employee parking spaces.
Amazon received $1 million in job-creation incentives from the city for the fulfillment center, and an additional $700,000 in road and other improvements along SW 89, Portland Avenue and Interstate 44.
The building permit shows the developer is St. Louis-based Lamar Johnson Collaborative, a company that has overseen construction of similar facilities across the country.
Amazon representatives on Monday declined to comment on the building permit, saying they do not comment on “rumors or speculation.” The company took a similar approach to media inquiries prior to seeking incentives for its fulfillment center.
Amazon joins Costco in growing its local operations amid a surge of online commerce prompted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
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