Planned 2.8 million square foot warehouse in Salinas, California, intended for Amazon

SALINAS, Calif. — A large sortation and distribution center is in the works to be built in Salinas at the edge of town in former agriculture fields. A document from the developer says that Amazon is the intended tenant of the warehouse.

In early February, the city of Salinas confirmed that warehouse construction was being discussed for an area currently occupied by agricultural land in the area of Abbott Street and Harris Road. The land is currently owned by Unikool Partners out of Salinas. The city of Salinas has signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and no city officials are allowed to speak about the project.

Paperwork and permits acquired by KSBW 8 by a California Public Records Act (PRA) request through the city shows that Amazon will be the tenant of a five-story, 2.8 million square foot sortation and distribution center. The center would be built by Scannell Properties, which has a history of building Amazon warehouses.

An invoice for a planning meeting between Scannell and the city of Salinas for $10,000, sent on Oct. 25, 2021, lists Amazon as the tenant of the property. Scannell Properties did not respond when reached for comment.

A development review application gives a glimpse of what the warehouse would be like. The building would staff 1,500 employees, be in use 24 hours a day, and would have hundreds of semi-trucks in and out every day.

The same application says the main impact of the warehouse will be traffic, but the developer plans to build additional traffic lanes and signals in the area. In addition, a proposed bus stop would be built on Dayton Street.

When reached for comment, Amazon told KSBW 8:

"While we do not have solidified plans in the Monterey County region, Amazon is always looking for new opportunities where we can be closer to our customers so that we can provide the best service."

Plans have not been finalized for the construction of the warehouse or for the purchase of the land. No final sale or lease paperwork has been signed by Amazon or Scannell Properties, according to the city. This week, soil sample crews were at the property, one more step before the purchase is finalized.

When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Unikool who did not identify themselves, said they could not comment.

Documents say, and the city confirmed, that an environmental impact report will not be necessary for the purchase because it had been completed before the talks began.