Amazon Eyes Former NJ Horse Track As Distribution Center

Amazon has proposed converting the former Atlantic City Race Course in Hamilton Township into a 3-million-square-foot distribution center.

Local officials told NJ Advance Media that the online retail giant's plans for redeveloping the track property have the potential to create hundreds of jobs for the region.

“This is going to be a shot in the arm for the whole area. Jobs are the most important thing,” Mayor Art Schenker told NJ Advance Media. “The way I see it, this is going to have a major impact — and a positive impact — that comes at a time when people need jobs.”

According to minutes from previous township committee meetings, Amazon is under contract to obtain 84 acres at the property's west end. The land ends at a fence along Leipzig Avenue, which connects with the Atlantic City Expressway.

The township voted on March 3 to create an escrow agreement with Amazon.com Services, LLC as “Assignee Conditional Redeveloper” for a portion of the Race Course Redevelopment Area.

On Monday, July 14, Amazon issued a statement about the property.

“We're excited by the prospect of redeveloping this property and opening a new operations facility in Hamilton Township,” said Amber Plunkett, Amazon spokesperson, in an email to NJ Advance Media. “The planning process around this project is still in the very early stages, and we look forward to sharing more in the coming months.”

During the township's March 3 meeting, Amazon unveiled the conceptual design for the 24/7 warehouse. The type of center Amazon is proposing is an Amazon Robotics Sortable facility. These facilities, often referred to as sortation centers, play a crucial role in Amazon's “middle mile” logistics, which route packages from fulfillment centers to their final destinations.

According to NJ Advance Media, the racecourse was founded in 1946 by Jack Kelly, the father of actress and former Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly. It cost approximately $3.5 million to build.