Amazon will open 1 vacant Tri-Cities warehouse this year. But plans for it have changed
Amazon Inc. will open one of two massive distribution centers in Pasco this summer.
While details are scarce, Leigh Anne Gullett, spokeswoman for the Seattle-based e-commerce giant, confirmed that the site known as Project Oyster at 1351 S. Road 40 E. near Sacajawea State Park is being prepared to launch soon.
It will operate as an “IXD” or “Inbound cross Dock,” which the spokeswoman described as a facility that receives and consolidates products from vendors, enabling bulk shipments of inventory into the fulfillment center network.
The building appears to be getting an update in service of its new bulk mission.
Ryan Companies US, the developer that built the facility along with its twin, project Pearl, across the street, received approval to perform $10 million worth of interior improvements in January.
Building permits issued by the city of Pasco describe revisions to the racking systems as well as utility and security upgrades.
The permit application indicated the exterior, roof, building and sprinkler systems would not be affected.
Amazon invested some $260 million to construct Projects Oyster and Pearl, both with more than 1 million square feet.
They were built as fulfillment centers in 2021-22 as Amazon went on a pandemic-era building spree that doubled its logistics space. It paused the expansion before the two Pasco projects could be put to use.
The buildings may have gone unused, but the investment is an important new source of tax revenue.
This week, Amazon received a property tax bill for about $3 million for the two sites from the Franklin County Treasurer.
The two facilities were expected to generate 1,500 jobs and 2,800 daily vehicle trips. The impact of opening one building as a bulk center is not yet clear.
Gullett said Amazon will release additional information about its new Pasco facility when it gets to the hiring stage, typically close to the launch date.
Check back for updates.
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