GAGE PARK — A community meeting scheduled for Tuesday evening will provide local residents with an opportunity to learn about Amazon’s plans to transform a large plant on the Southwest Side into a delivery station. The company will present its plans for the Central Steel & Wire Plant, located at 3000 W. 51st St., during a meeting from 6-7:30 p.m. at Las Brisas del Mar, 3207 W. 51st St. The meeting has been organized by Ald. Jeylú Gutiérrez’s (14th) ward office, according to a public notice.
Amazon’s proposal involves the redevelopment of the 70-acre site into a delivery station, which is the final stage in the company’s fulfillment process. “Our intention to redevelop this property and establish a delivery station is fundamentally about providing swift delivery and excellent service to customers on the southwest side of Chicago,” stated Amazon spokesperson Amber Plunkett in an email.
The facility will accommodate a fleet of electric delivery vehicles, and Amazon plans to enhance the site with landscaping and other improvements, added Plunkett. During the meeting, Amazon will provide information about its operations, job opportunities, and its commitment to supporting the communities where it operates.
Amazon acquired the property in 2021 from Central Steel & Wire, as per Cook County records. The company had previously announced its intention to convert the site into an Amazon delivery station, with construction expected to commence in 2023, as reported by the Sun-Times. Facilities of this nature typically employ between 100 to 200 full-time employees, in addition to nearly 400 employees hired by the company’s delivery service partners, according to Plunkett.
Amazon also operates another delivery station at a leased warehouse, located at 3507 W. 51st Street. This location has been the site of previous worker demonstrations demanding improved wages and work conditions, as reported by the Sun-Times.
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