Back in April, the Victoria Airport Authority announced a last-mile distribution centre was being proposed on its commercial lands in west Sidney, on the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island, B.C.
At the time, we believed the unnamed tenant would be Amazon, based on the renders supplied with the project proposal. Today, the Victoria Airport Authority announced the new tenant coming is indeed Amazon, in the form of a delivery station.
The project led by Edmonton-based York Realty is a 115,000 sq. ft. delivery station on 7.8 acres of industrial-zoned land at Victoria International Airport, located in Sidney.
According to York Realty, construction is slated to be completed in the fall of 2022, with activity already starting on the site. This new building will be a “last mile” delivery station from Amazon, receiving deliveries from trailer trucks from larger fulfillment and sort centres. Once packages arrive at the delivery station, they are sorted, packed and loaded into smaller delivery vehicles to ship items to customer homes.
“We are pleased to welcome Amazon to Victoria International Airport and the peninsula,” said Victoria Airport Authority President and CEO, Geoff Dickson, in a statement. “We would like to thank York Realty and Amazon for the vision they have shown in choosing this location with a goal to meet the growing demands of the region.”
After a consultation process with the local neighbourhood, the building height and size were reduced and altered.
“We are excited to continue our growth in Canada with the addition of the delivery station in Sidney, B.C.,” said Tushar Kumar, Regional Director, Last-mile Logistics Operations for Amazon Canada, in a statement. “The new delivery station will allow us to provide fast and efficient delivery for customers and provide great job opportunities for the talented local workforce.”
York Realty says it is working with W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council, Tseycum First Nation, Tsartlip First Nation, and Tsawout First Nation “on incorporating design elements and art installations into the building exterior and landscaping design plans which will reflect the rich culture and heritage of the W̱SÁNEĆ People.”
“We are satisfied with the commitment York Realty and Amazon have made to ensure low environmental impacts, to create a relationship with the Tseycum, Tsartlip and Tsawout First Nations, and to recognize W̱SÁNEĆ lands and culture,” added Gord Elliott, Director of Operations at the W̱SÁNEĆ Leadership Council.
Galaran Road and Beacon Ave, just outside the Amazon Delivery Center site, will soon see a roundabout constructed to help alleviate traffic concerns, while additional improvements to Highway 17, Beacon Ave and Stirling Way are also being reviewed.
