NORTH JACKSON — Global online retailer Amazon has leased space at the Youngstown Commerce Park for a warehouse and last-mile fulfillment center, for which site preparation and building improvements have already begun.

“This is going to be a facility for last-mile distribution for the entire Youngstown region,” said Lee Burdman, managing partner with Redstone Investments, the building’s owner with offices in Youngstown and Tampa, Fla. “This is just a good regional location with good highway access.”

The 42,000-square-foot fulfillment center, on just more than 5 acres of land on DeBartolo Drive near Commissioner Drive inside the park, is minutes away from Interstate 76, which connects nearby to the Ohio Turnpike.

Burdman said talks with Amazon began in the summer through an inquiry from a broker looking for space on the retailer’s behalf.

The parking lot has been expanded to accommodate 100 to 150 more vehicles and “they are really retrofitting the building themselves to accommodate their needs.”

Work at the site has been happening since late January to early February, said Rocky DiGennaro Jr., president of Western Reserve Building Trades.

Thirty to 40 people are working there now to ready the building. Some of the companies are Joe Dickey Electric, Prout Boiler Heating and Welding, Pusateri Excavating and Lencyk Masonry, DiGennaro said.

“It’s a 100 percent union job to my knowledge,” he said.

Said Sarah Boyarko, chief operating officer of the Youngstown Warren Regional Chamber, “We were obviously aware they were considering a variety of proposals in the market and are pleased they have finalized this location in North Jackson, and we will

continue to support their business needs in the hiring process and beyond.”

“It’s exciting and it will be a facility to access the Youngstown-Warren market directly,” Boyarko said.

An email seeking comment from Amazon’s public relations section was sent Wednesday.

The building most recently was home to a company that worked with General Motors Lordstown for repair and warranty work, Burdman said. Before that, it was the regional headquarters for BP during the gas and oil exploration boom several years ago and before that, it was a FedEx ground facility.

rselak@tribtoday.com