Mayor Jim Watson and Cumberland ward Coun. Stephen Blais announced Tuesday that Amazon will be opening a distribution centre in the east end of the city.
According to the city and Amazon, the distribution centre will create over 600 jobs when it comes to staffing the centre and around 1500 construction jobs when it comes to building the facility. The building will be located at 5225 Boundary Rd.
“We have been working on this project with Amazon for a number of months and we’re thrilled with the over 600 permanent jobs that will be created in the city’s east-end,” Watson said.
Last year, Ottawa lost out on the opportunity to build Amazon offices in the city but at the announcement, Watson confirmed that though they lost out on that bid, they worked to make sure the centre would be built here.
“When we started the Amazon HQ 2 talks we were focusing just on that and we recognize that was going to be a steep hill to climb,” said Watson. “So in the discussions that I had with various Amazon officials we also looked at what other opportunities were available.”
Coun. Blais also announced today that he would be tabling a motion at planning committee to defer the development fee for extending services out to the facility, and waive the interest fee on said payment. The developer, Broccolini, would then pay the city back the around $8 million to $9 million it will cost to extend the services out that far.
“We’re getting $8 million to $9 million in infrastructure that will not only serve Amazon but will serve our purposes to attract more companies to the east end,” said Watson.
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Watson then said if I give you $800,000 and you give me $8 million back, well that’s a pretty good deal.
Amazon says the new warehouse will be its eighth in Canada, joining others in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta.