The remaining site, totaling 64 acres, would be dedicated to “auto parts suppliers or other task generators,” the city said in a press release.
The development is set to begin construction this fall and be completed by 2022, becoming the largest Amazon warehouse / distribution center in the region, behind the 3.5 million-square-foot center built on the former site of the Pontiac Silverdome, the former home of the Detroit Lions. At 3.8 million square feet, it would be equal to the floor space of more than 20 typical Walmart stores.
Duggan said the development would bring 1,200 jobs.
Duggan also said the Sterling Group / Hillwood development team would pay $ 7 million for a new transportation center that will serve 30,000 Detroit Department of Transportation and Suburban Mobility Authority on regional shuttle bus riders per week.
Sterling Group and Hillwood would pay for all demolition and environmental work that would take place on the site, construction on which would begin in October pending approval by the city council in September, a press release said.
The project does not have to go through the process of mutual benefits because Sterling Group and Hillwood pay the assessed value for the land and do not receive it for free, said John Roach, director of media relations for Duggan. The Community Benefits Ordinance requires development projects totaling $ 75 million or more to continue through the community benefits process if they receive $ 1 million or more in incentives from cities or land worth $ 1 million or more.
“This agreement for the proposed sale of the state fairgrounds is an enormous opportunity, not only for District 2 and the city of Detroit, but for the Association of Southeast Michigan,” said Roy McCalister, a member of the Detroit City Council who the district represents where the fairgrounds are located, said in the release. “The potential for 1,200 jobs at Amazon with this new facility represents an opportunity to diversify our economy while engaging residents of our city. I hope and expect that this new facility will become a major employer, as well as a dynamic training ground for Detroit. workers for years. ”
Amazon across the region
Sterling Group, led by TCF Bank Executive Chairman Gary Torgow’s adult children, and Hillwood, managed by the late Ross Perot’s son, have collaborated on other projects in the region, including for Amazon.
Among them: the redevelopment of the Pinnacle Race Course site in the Huron Township of Wayne County and the Shelby Township distribution center for Amazon on the site of a former Visteon Corp. auto parts plant.
The two companies are also working together on the redevelopment of the former Stacy’s Golf Center building in Warren.
Gary Torgow is no longer involved with Sterling Group, which last year chose the city to redevelop the former Joe Louis Arena site over the next several years into a mixed use.
Messages were left with Sterling Group and Hillwood seeking comment.
