An Amazon warehouse is being constructed at 106 S. Browning Parkway in Farmington, but the only mention of Amazon in the 44-page plan is a mock-up of an Amazon sign.
The 41,250-square-foot facility is named Project Lobo, and it sits on more than 16 acres. There will be three areas within the building – one dedicated to assembly, one to business and one to storage, according to designs filed Jan. 24 with the city of Farmington.
“Project Lobo is Amazon,” said Mike Safrany, a planner for the city of Farmington. “They submitted that months and months ago, and they called it Project Lobo.”
The Tri-City Record obtained the designs through the Inspection of Public Records Act from the city Clerk’s Office, because the project apparently did not go through the regular public oversight of the Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council.
Clerk Andrea Jones wrote in an email that the project “was permitted by right and did not need a variance to any city regulations so it only went through the building permit process.”
“I have yet to have direct contact with the business slated to occupy the building on Browning,” said Warren Unsicker, director of economic development for the city. “That said, the fact that companies are seeing value in expanding their warehousing into our community is an exciting indicator of the strength of our consumers and businesses,”
Apparently there is a nondisclosure agreement, because the CEO of Four Corners Economic Development Tim Gibbs said, “When we are under an NDA, we cannot tell anyone that we are under NDA. What I have heard of this company took place before I assumed the seat in February.”
Safrany confirmed the building is a new Amazon site, and that was good news to Farmington Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jamie Church.
“They saw Farmington as an area where they wanted to be,” Church said. It shows that Farmington is “a strong area with a strong economy.”
Unsicker echoed that sentiment. “We have seen numerous expansions and developments as of late, and it is clear that Farmington is solidifying its role as the regional hub for the Corners.”
Farmington Mayor Nate Duckett also said there is value in having a company such as Amazon locate in the area.
“Businesses who are willing to invest in our city, house their products, and build distribution centers is to me a telltale sign of the strength of our local economy and the spending power of people here in the Four Corners,” Duckett said.
Project Lobo’s “assembly” area will include an 1,860-square-foot break room and employee resource center, as well as a 898-square-foot multipurpose and training room, according to the plans. The business area will consist of an associate entry and lockers, a lactation room and manager’s office, as well contemplation and ablution, according to the plans.
The storage area takes up 37,581 square feet and includes the warehouse, restrooms, hallways, electrical equipment and fire risers, according to the plans.
There also will be a “canopy for covered van loading,” which will be about 8,498 square feet, the plans state.
The project design team consists of developer Asilia Investments, based in Salt Lake City, Utah, and architect, SGA Design Group, P.C., based in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Amazon has invested $1.6 billion in New Mexico since 2010 and $1.4 billion in “GDP as a result of Amazon’s investments.” These investments include two fulfillment and sortation centers, six delivery stations, three Whole Foods Market locations, according to the company’s website.
The company has created 3,000 full-time and part-time jobs in the state as of January, according to statistics from the company’s website.
This article will be updated when more information becomes available.
