By Russ Tarby
Contributing Writer
After Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered all non-essential construction projects to cease work on Friday, March 27, bulldozer operators turned off their engines at the site of the $350 million warehouse and distribution center being built on Morgan Road, in the town of Clay. On the final two days of the month of March, the site was virtually deserted.
Construction had begun there early last month on what is believed to be Central New York’s largest construction project in years.
Late last summer, the Dallas-based Trammell Crow Co., one of the nation’s most prolific commercial real estate developers, announced a plan to build a 3.8 million-square-foot, five-story warehouse and distribution facility on Morgan Road that would employ 1,000 people with an annual payroll of some $30 million. The warehouse will be built on the 110-acre parcel occupied by the Liverpool Golf & Country Club since 1947.
The project was endorsed by the Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency, and it quickly received all necessary zone changes and other permissions from the town of Clay, after a Trammell Crow official indicated that an as-yet-unnamed client would build the $350 million distribution center. Regional business analysts have surmised that the client is none other than Amazon.com.
Before construction started, Trammell Crow purchased the property from the Ajemian family, longtime owners of the Liverpool Golf & Country Club, for $5.23 million.
Trammell Crow principal George Laigaie acknowledged the work stoppage as ordered by the governor as one of the state’s efforts to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. A sign posted at the site lists ways to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Laigaie has applied for an exception to the order from Albany, he said, which could delay the project’s progress.
Trammell Crow had estimated that construction could take 18 months, anticipating a warehouse opening for autumn 2021.
When the site closed down, workers had nearly finished grading the property, and Trammel Crow executives were talking to town officials about securing permits to begin pouring the building’s foundation.
Although Laigaie has steadfastly refused to identify the Morgan Road client, Trammell Crow has a relationship with e-commerce retail giant Amazon. In April 2014, Trammell Crow completed construction of a 1.25-million-square-foot fulfillment center for Amazon in Moreno Valley, California. Floor space there totals 1.5 million square feet, less than half the size of the proposed facility in Clay.
Meyer Manor also affected
Work has also slowed to a crawl at the Meyer Manor apartment complex being built at 1225 Tulip St. by local developer Cosimo Zavaglia.
Contractors have been active at the site for 10 months but are now complying with Gov. Cuomo’s directives.
Village of Liverpool Codes Officer Bill Reagan confirmed the situation on April 2.
“Construction at Meyer Manor has been restricted to no more than one contractor (person/employee) on the site at a time in accordance with NY State Executive Order 202.11,” Reagan wrote in an email.
After three years of meetings on the subject, in May 2018 the Village Planning Board approved the site plan for a 108-unit apartment complex in the village, just north of the Thruway. Tree removal began that November, and site work started in May 2019.
Stadium earns an exception
Renovations at NBT Bank Stadium on Syracuse’s north side can continue despite the state’s March 27 shutdown of most construction projects.
On April 1, Onondaga County officials said the work on the stadium — such as replacing light towers and building bullpens — would be allowed to go on.
The 23-year-old ballpark is home to the Syracuse Mets, the Triple-A farm club of the National League’s New York Mets.
The first game of the International League’s 2020 season is not expected to be scheduled until June, at the earliest. The Syracuse Mets’ 2020 home opener was originally slated for April 17.
