Amazon is planning to develop a data center in the Round Rock area of Austin, Texas, on land it had previously earmarked for a distribution center.
BizJournal reports that the company seeking a recommendation from the Round Rock Planning and Zoning Commission to establish zoning for a planned development on land it owns along County Road 172.
The company is seeking to annex and rezone about 149 acres along County Road 172 and McNeil Road, north of State Highway 45. The site would include space for warehouse and distribution, a data center, and an electrical substation.
Amazon put plans for a $250 million distribution center project on a 193-acre piece of the former Robinson Ranch on hold last year after the company admitted it had overbuilt on logistics space. The company had acquired the land in 2021.
Bradley Dushkin, Round Rock's planning and development services director, confirmed to BJ that Amazon has restarted the annexation and zoning process. He said the "only notable difference" between the new request and previous plans is the proposed addition of the data center on the southern half of the property.
Amazon plans to develop a last-mile distribution center on the northern half of the property, which would be part of the first phase of development.
Amazon hasn't submitted a site development permit application yet, which is part of the annexation process. Dushkin noted the data center is speculative "at this point" because Amazon doesn't have firm plans for the southern half of the property.
A number of operators have a presence around Austin, while Sabey is also building a campus in Round Rock on the site of a now-demolished Sears Teleserv building. Switch is also developing in Round Rock.
