Boxwood Road Amazon Fulfillment Center Case Study

Boxwood Road Project

Wilmington, Delaware

Covering 3.8 million square feet of space and five stories high, the Amazon fulfillment center on BOXWOOD ROAD is one of the largest Amazon facilities in the North America. The fulfillment center features all of Amazon’s latest technology, including Amazon Robotics using artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate key aspects of the fulfillment process.

CHALLENGE

Take an outdated and out of service General Motors Auto Assembly Plant and position the property favorably to the next landowner and tenant (Amazon).

PROJECT OVERVIEW

After investigating the property’s potential, Harvey Hanna bought the site in October 2017. The noted potential for the site was in its heavy industrial zoning and close access to the interstate highway system. During 2018 planning sessions, the HHA team designed 4 distribution centers, including a 1 million square foot building, that would span the entire 142-acre property site. After full remediation and re-positioning of the Boxwood Site, HHA sold 88 acres of the site to Dermody Properties in November of 2019. Early in 2020, HHA sold the remaining acres of the site to Dermody Properties for future development opportunities.

Boxwood Road At a Glance

Property Size

142 Acres

Acquired / Sold

2017 / 2020

Partnered with

Dermody Properties

Currently Leasing

Amazon

COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC IMPACT RESULTS

Total employment when center opened: 500 employees

Current employment: 3,000 full-time employees

Investment: $300M

Tax Revenue: State & Local – $18M year (estimated), Transfer Tax – $1.25M

The fulfillment center’s opening has reinvigorated the long-shuttered and dormant former General Motors plan and is once again working as an economic engine for Delaware.