By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
West Windsor Township has joined the growing list of suitors seeking to convince Amazon that it should locate its second national headquarters in their community.
With the support of West Windsor Township Council, Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh has reached out to Amazon’s Office of Economic Development with offers to host the company’s new headquarters on one of two sites – the SRI International site or the Howard Hughes Corp. property.
The 250-acre SRI International site is located on the grounds of the former David Sarnoff Research Center on Route 1 near Washington Road.
The Howard Hughes Corp. property is 653 acres and is located on Route 1 at Quakerbridge Road. There are vacant buildings on the property, left over from its former use by the American Cyanamid Co. The site could accommodate a 500,000-square-foot building, as well as up to 8 million square feet.
If Amazon is interested in pursuing a new headquarters in West Windsor Township, the entire process – from conceptual site plan review to Planning Board approval and the crafting of a developer’s agreement – could take place in about 15 months, township officials said.
In a Sept. 26 letter to Amazon, Mayor Hsueh wrote that the corporate owners of both properties “have expressed interest in your endeavor.” The Howard Hughes Corp. has been attempting to develop the site for years.
“There is strong local, regional and state unity for this development,” Mayor Hsueh wrote. Township Council has adopted a resolution in support of it. There is support from Mercer County, the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce and the State of New Jersey.
Mayor Hsueh wrote that both sites are less than 50 minutes away by car or train to the Newark and Philadelphia airports. They are both near the Princeton Junction Train Station on the Northeast Corridor rail line, providing direct access to New York City and Washington, D.C.
The two parcels are located on Route 1, and there is access to mass transit onsite. Amazon’s preference is for its headquarters to be located close to major highways and streets, and for access to mass transportation.
The mayor also pointed out that Princeton, Rutgers and Rider universities and The College of New Jersey are close by. West Windsor Township attracts a highly educated population. More than 75 percent of residents hold bachelor’s degrees and nearly half hold graduate degrees, he wrote.
“West Windsor is characterized by the attributes that Amazon values,” Mayor Hsueh wrote. “For example, in excess of 4 million people live within a 30-mile radius of these sites. The township has a stable and business-friendly environment and has maintained a Triple A bond rating since 2007.”
West Windsor Township officials pointed out the availability of housing in all price ranges, including units designated as affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households. There is a supply of homes to be purchased, as well as rental apartments.
Mayor Hsueh acknowledged that Amazon would likely receive “dozens, if not hundreds” of responses to its request for proposals from cities and towns, and many may express compelling reasons to choose them.
“However, we also know that the site selection is more than checking off boxes on a list of ‘ideals’ for site selection. West Windsor has many other features that warrant its selection,” he wrote.
“We welcome the opportunity to pursue this application with you, and to encourage Mr. Bezos to return to the neighborhood where he spent his college years,” Mayor Hsueh wrote.
Jeff Bezos, the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Amazon, graduated from Princeton University in 1986.
