Amazon Plans 200K Sq Ft Logistics Hub in Southeast DC, 500 Jobs

Amazon announced plans Thursday for a 200,000-square-foot logistics and distribution center in Southeast Washington, D.C., an expansion tied to its nearby HQ2 campus in Arlington, Virginia's National Landing. The facility, aimed at streamlining last-mile delivery operations, will create 500 full-time jobs with average salaries exceeding $60,000 annually, plus benefits. Ward 8 Council member Trayon White hailed the move as a 'game-changer' for Anacostia and Congress Heights, areas pitched unsuccessfully for HQ2 in 2018 but now benefiting from spillover investment. The DC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) is fast-tracking permits, with groundbreaking eyed for late 2026.

This Southeast DC site leverages proximity to the Anacostia Riverfront, one of four locations DMPED pitched to Amazon during the 2018 HQ2 bidding war, including parcels near Buzzard Point and Poplar Point. Though Amazon selected Arlington for its 2.5 million-square-foot HQ2—now hosting over 8,000 employees in Phase I completed in 2023—the Virginia campus has spurred regional growth, including 2.1 million square feet at Metropolitan Park and commitments for 25,000 jobs by 2030. Phase II remains delayed until at least June 2028, per Arlington County approvals, freeing Amazon to diversify into D.C. proper.

Local leaders view the logistics hub as revitalization fuel for Southeast DC, where unemployment hovers above 10% and major employers are scarce. The project aligns with Amazon's $2.5 billion HQ2 investment, which transformed National Landing through 24 commercial developments, parks and transit upgrades. DMPED projects $50 million in annual economic impact from the facility, prioritizing hiring from Ward 8 zip codes and partnering with organizations like the Anacostia Economic Development Corporation. Construction, led by an undisclosed general contractor, emphasizes sustainable features like solar panels and EV charging, mirroring HQ2's LEED Platinum standards.