About six weeks after the city issued a permit March 14 for internet retailer Amazon to build-out space for a sub-same day facility in West Jacksonville, it followed up with one April 29 for the center’s conveyor system.
Called Amazon SJA1 SSD on the permit, the facility is a same-day delivery fulfillment center designed to enable faster shipping.
The warehouses have been described as smaller, regional facilities designed to deliver high-demand items to customers within a 60-minute drive using the Amazon Flex delivery network, which allows people to use their own vehicles to make deliveries.
Designed Conveyor Systems LLC of Franklin, Tennessee, is the contractor listed to install the $4.22 million project.
The center is shown as 270,987 square feet with a project area of 14,735 square feet.
Bryan Builders LLC of Longwood is building-out the space at 1700 Imeson Road at a project cost of $16.6 million. The project is in Building 2 in the 39.13-acre Commonwealth Logistics Center at southwest Imeson Road and Commonwealth Avenue.
It will be Amazon’s 12th Jacksonville center.
Initial plans did not name Amazon, which was identified in other documents. The project had been described as a warehouse package-type facility including package sorting and delivery.
On June 21, 2024, the city granted an administrative deviation from the city zoning code, saying the property owner was retrofitting the warehouse to provide for Amazon in the 272,190-square-foot structure built in 2023.
The deviation allows Amazon to provide 460 parking spaces on the site, up from the maximum 150 that had been allowed.
The city noted that the tenant proposed distributing through passenger vehicles. The 460 spaces would be used for the parking demands for employees and the flexible loading on-site.
The city then issued a horizontal development permit July 17, 2024, for removing the existing striping/curb and restriping the existing vehicle use at a project cost of $100,000.
Plans referred to the project as SJA1 and Project Teapot. Documents confirmed it as Amazon.
Amazon uses codes for its properties. SJA1 means it is the first of its variety in Jacksonville.
AboutAmazon.com explains that one of its newest same-day sites in Sacramento, California, is known as SCA5.
There’s no explanation why the Jacksonville plans were called Project Teapot.
The property owner is listed as AIREIT Commonwealth Logistics Center LLC, in care of Ares Management LLC in Denver. InLight Real Estate Partners of Ponte Vedra Beach developed the park.
Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. is the civil engineer.
Amazon.com has 11 facilities in the region. The Commonwealth warehouse would make it a dozen.
The Seattle-based online retailer opened its first two fulfillment centers in September 2017 in Northwest Jacksonville and October 2017 in AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center in West Jacksonville, with the help of $26.7 million in city and state incentives for creating 2,700 jobs.
Fulfillment centers reach 1 million square feet in size.
Since then, it opened another fulfillment center, two sortation centers, a heavy bulk freight center and several delivery stations.
None of those subsequent facilities received incentives.
Amazon.com also has been updating its Pecan Park Road distribution center site for its Amazon Flex program.
Flex.Amazon.com explains that Flex drivers download the app and look for convenient delivery opportunities.
The city issued a permit Nov. 14 for horizontal development at a cost of $80,000 at Amazon’s 12900 Pecan Park Road fulfillment center near Jacksonville International Airport.
Plans show wayfinding signs and directions for Amazon Flex drivers along with a canopy and ramp at the proposed “SSD” program door.
Amazon says customers choose same-day delivery on eligible items marked for delivery by specific times.