Developer in Dobrovi? prepares the construction of a warehouse for Amazon

Dobrovíz (near Prague) - A developer in Dobrovíz is preparing to construct a warehouse for the American Amazon, with the archaeological survey at the site already completed and the site works now in full swing. Construction is set to begin in September, with completion expected by June 2015 at the latest. Jan Hradecký, the project manager from the development company Panattoni, which is overseeing the project, stated this today. The company aims to employ around 1,500 people in Dobrovíz.
     At the site where workers will begin building the distribution center for the internet company Amazon in the fall, a pile of topsoil over ten meters high has been created, which local farmers are interested in. They will gradually take it for their fields. The terrain modifications will continue for about another three weeks. The construction of the hall, measuring approximately 500 by 190 meters, is expected to take about seven months and will be divided into three phases. The winter weather will also play a role. "Ideally, it should be completed in May, and at the latest it will be finished in June," Hradecký stated.
     Panattoni has a valid building permit for the construction of a hall measuring 91,000 square meters, and the territorial proceedings for the planned expansion of the building to 95,000 square meters are currently underway, with the building permit potentially available as early as August. The building office in Hostivice has also initiated territorial proceedings for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant for the commercial zone, which will have the capacity for 2,600 residents.
     The developer signed cooperation agreements with the municipality of Dobrovíz and a local civic association in June. The locals will receive various benefits, such as half a million crowns annually for children and seniors, noise barriers, and safer roads. The contract between the municipality and the developer includes developer commitments, such as the construction of a bypass by the end of 2015 at the latest, the modernization of the municipal wastewater treatment plant, and an annual contribution of one million crowns to the municipality. The total investment amounts to 100 million crowns.
     A similar distribution center as in Prague was also planned in Brno in the Černovická terasa industrial zone. Brno city councillors approved an update to the zoning plan on May 20, thereby enabling the construction of the center after long disputes on this matter. However, Amazon stated in April that it no longer wants to go to Brno and is considering other locations in Central and Eastern Europe.
     Amazon is the largest and one of the oldest online retailers in the world. Jeff Bezos founded the company in 1994 and still leads it. Amazon started its online operations in July 1995 and currently employs 97,000 people worldwide.