The state has granted permission for construction to restart at a $350 million distribution center in the Syracuse suburb of Clay. NYup.com reports that many people believe the building’s ultimate occupant will be Amazon.
Developer Trammell Crow Corp. received an exemption from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s order halting non-essential construction, Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon said on April 1 during his daily briefing on the coronavirus outbreak.
Site work had stopped on Monday on the $350 million, 3.8-million-sq. ft. structure following the governor’s initial order the previous Friday.
Cuomo’s order allowed builders to apply for an exemption if they can show that their project should be considered essential.
Warehouses and distribution centers are allowed to continue operating under the emergency regulations, as many people rely on online retailers because of government orders to stay at home.
Trammell Crow contended that if distribution centers are essential businesses, construction of its distribution center should be considered essential, too. McMahon, a major promoter of the project, supported the company’s application, the website reported.
Site work had started on March 11 on the five-story building.
The website reported:
Trammell Crow has said only that the center has been designed for an e-commerce company or retailer. Logistics experts and many local observers believe the tenant will be Amazon, the big online retailer that is rapidly expanding its delivery network.
As the virus expands into our community, construction workers from several county’s can only spread the outbreak. Why are these sites still operating and putting our residents in jeopardy.