Lawrenceville Community Groups Hosts Virtual Meeting On Proposed Amazon Facility
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The possibility of a new Amazon distribution center in Lawrenceville was the subject of a virtual community meeting.
KDKA has previously reported that Amazon wants to take over the old Sears Outlet building on 51st Street.
The groups Lawrenceville United and Lawrenceville Corporation held the virtual meeting on Tuesday to provide an update on those plans.
Lawrenceville United said it wants to "hold Amazon accountable." The groups conducted a survey of hundreds of community residents.
"By about two-thirds majority, those responses were overwhelmingly negative and opposed to those plans," said David Breingnan, executive director of Lawrenceville United.
The 260,000-square-foot facility, according to the e-commerce giant, would be used as a last-mile distribution center, part of an attempt to speed up deliveries by opening stations closer to final destinations.
Traffic and air quality in the East End neighborhood are among the significant community concerns.
"Amazon's history of impacting and hurting small businesses, especially small retail businesses and independent small businesses, which are really the lifeblood of Lawrenceville," one person said.
Amazon already has facilities across the region, including a 1,000,000-square-foot facility in Findlay Township and a delivery station in Coraopolis.
After fierce community opposition, Churchill Borough council approved a plan in December to bring a sprawling distribution Amazon center there.
Churchill Future's attorney filed an appeal to fight plans to bring Amazon to the borough's backyard.