New Amazon Warehouse To Be Constructed On Naugatuck, Waterbury Line After $2.5M Land Sale

WATERBURY/NAUGATUCK, CT — Construction of a new state-of-the-art Amazon facility on the Waterbury-Naugatuck line is set to begin soon following the recent purchase over 150 acres of undeveloped land, according to officials from both communities.

In an announcement this week, Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski Jr. and Naugatuck Mayor Pete Hess said Amazon.com Services, LLC had officially purchased 157 acres of undeveloped land within the Waterbury/Naugatuck Industrial Park for $2.5 million.

Pernerewski and Hess said construction of the approximately 3.2-million-square-foot, 5-story Amazon fulfillment center was set to begin "in the coming days."

The project is expected to generate over 300 construction jobs and, once operational, could create up to 1,000 full-time equivalent jobs offering benefits, educational support and career advancement opportunities, according to the announcement.

"Waterbury and Naugatuck are great places to live and work, and we're pleased to be establishing local operations here," Amazon Senior Manager of Economic Development Glendowlyn Thames said in a statement. "We're excited that construction on this state-of-the-art Amazon robotics fulfillment center is slated to start soon. As progress is made, we look forward to being able to share more about our launch schedule and the hiring process for the 1,000 jobs that will be created."

Thames also noted the company appreciated all the support it has received throughout the process from Pernerewski, Hess and Former Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary among others.

According to the announcement, Bluewater Property Group, in partnership with Amazon.com, was selected as the preferred respondent to a joint request for proposals issued for the disposition and development of the site in 2021.

In 2022, Bluewater Property Group entered into a purchase and sale agreement with both the city of Waterbury and the borough of Naugatuck.

Despite some delays to the project, local officials said they are confident the result will be well worth the wait, bringing lasting economic benefits to the region.

"For decades, many different proposals, ranging from a mall to a dog track, were considered for this land, but none came to fruition due to the steep and difficult terrain, particularly in accessing the site from Waterbury's South Main Street," Hess said in a statement. "That all changed when I partnered with then Waterbury Mayor Neil O'Leary. Together, we devised a collaborative solution that allowed access to the property through the Naugatuck Industrial Park, making development finally feasible."

O'Leary noted he was "incredibly proud" to have played a role in setting the foundation for the project that has been years in the making.

"What began as a shared vision between two municipalities has now become a regional success story," O'Leary said in a statement. "This is a win not only for Waterbury and Naugatuck, but for the entire Naugatuck Valley."

Pernerewski said the project was a powerful example of what can be accomplished when municipalities work together.

"The collaboration between Waterbury and Naugatuck, paired with the commitment from Amazon and Bluewater, has turned a long-overlooked property into a site of immense potential," Pernerewski said in a statement. "This facility will provide meaningful employment opportunities and generate economic momentum for years to come."

Christina Bernardin, vice president of Bluewater Property Group, also commended both communities for their roles in making the large-scale project a reality.

"Waterbury and Naugatuck have been incredible partners throughout this journey, fostering platforms for transparent communication with the local community as we navigated the permitting process," Bernardin said in a statement. "After three years of collaboration, planning, engineering and dedication, we're proud to begin construction on a project that reflects the shared vision of both municipalities and our team."