Amazon building new fulfilment centre in Ottawa's south end
Construction has begun on a third distribution centre for
Amazon in Ottawa’s south end, as the American e-commerce company continues to
expand its footprint in the capital.
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed to CTV News Ottawa it has
begun work to build a new fulfilment centre in the area of Bill Leathem Drive
and Leikin Drive in Barrhaven.
Amazon purchased the property for the new facility in 2024,
and will build a 3.1 million square-foot facility.
An artist rendering of the new
Amazon fulfilment centre in the area of Bill Leathem Drive and Leikin Drive in
Barrhaven. (City of Ottawa report)
“Amazon has a strong track record in Ottawa: we opened our
first local facility, YOW1, in 2019, and today operate two fulfilment centres
and two delivery stations in the city,” an Amazon spokesperson said.
“This new facility will serve customers across the country.”
An artist rendering of the proposed
new Amazon distribution centre to be built in Barrhaven. (City of Ottawa
report)
Amazon has fulfilment centres on Boundary Road in Navan and
on Citigate Drive in Barrhaven.
The company said more details about the new facility,
including how many employees will work in the building, will be released at a
later date.
A recent report from CBRE Canada, a commercial real estate
agency, said the warehouse will span over three parcels of land in the Bill
Leathem Drive and Leikin Drive area.
The 3.1 million square-foot Amazon
warehouse planned for Barrhaven includes 9 loading docks and a fenced truck
yard to accommodate 482 trailers. (City of Ottawa report)
“Their recent acquisition of the property from Broccolini
for $109.1 million reaffirms the company’s commitment to the region,” CBRE
said.
According to documents filed with the city, the five-storey
building will have 60,701 square metres of space on the ground floor, with four
floors allocated for operational facilities and office space on the ground
floor. The development includes 59 loading docks and a fenced truck yard to
accommodate 482 trailers.
Residents worried about traffic impacts
Traffic impacts have dominated the conversation in
communities surrounding the future facility, according to Barrhaven East Coun.
Wilson Lo.
“Some residents have also reached out about other issues
related to the development, but traffic certainly has been at the forefront,”
Lo said.
