NORTH MANKATO — If you think you get things pretty quickly from Amazon now, the deliveries in the Mankato region could be even a little faster in the future.
Amazon is building a delivery center in the Northport Industrial Center, located along Carlson Drive, south of Palmer Bus and Blue Star Power.
“They call it a ‘last-mile’ center,” said North Mankato Community Development Director Mike Fischer.
The last-mile facilities, also known as delivery stations or delivery hubs, are designed to handle the final stage of the company’s delivery process.
Merchandise comes to them from large fulfillment centers, like the Amazon facility in Shakopee. The merchandise is then sorted at the last-mile facility and prepared for pickup by UPS, FedEX, USPS or Amazon trucks.
The hubs are aimed at optimizing delivery speed and efficiency by processing packages for local delivery routes.
The last-mile facilities around the country range in size, depending on the local market being served, with some as large at 160,000 square feet. The North Mankato facility will be 60,000 square feet.
Fischer said the local facility plans to employ 75 people and is expected to be open in December.
There are several Amazon fulfillment centers, distribution centers, delivery stations and sorting stations in Minnesota, including in Brooklyn Park, Lakeville, Maple Grove, Shakopee, St. Cloud and Woodbury.
The closest one to Mankato is the Shakopee facility.
Besides the traditional delivery of packages by truck, Amazon is developing other delivery programs. One, called Amazon Hub Delivery, partners with local businesses like florists and coffee shops. Packages are delivered to the businesses where the businesses’ employees deliver to doorsteps during the day when it works into their schedule.
Amazon is also experimenting with drone and robotic delivery methods, such as Prime Air and Amazon Scout, to further optimize last-mile delivery.
Norwood site
Max DeMars redeveloped the former Norwood hotel, along Webster Avenue and Highway 169, into the Forde apartment complex. And a separate building is going up next to the apartments, which will be a Benedict’s restaurant.
Fischer said DeMars has plans moving ahead for developing the rest of the property.
“A med-spa clinic building is starting next week. And there will be another building, too, a mixed-use building with commercial on the first floor and apartments on the second floor that is starting this spring sometime,” Fischer said.
And DeMars is moving ahead with plans for a new hotel to be built just north of the Forde complex and behind Plaza Jalisco Mexican restaurant.
New daycare planned
The Mankato Planning Commission and City Council is giving the green light to a new daycare center located at 1720 Bassett Drive.
Mary Ssegirinya, on behalf of Patience N Bubbles, is planning to open the daycare, which will serve infants, toddlers, and preschool aged children, including those with developmental disabilities.
“We focus on providing a nurturing and inclusive environment, we are committed to supporting the growth and development of every child in our care,” according to their website.
The site has a total of 40 parking stalls. The daycare will employ five full-time staff members, five teaching assistants, and will include five classrooms.
The proposed floor plan includes five classrooms, each with a dedicated restroom, as well as public restrooms, a laundry facility, a mechanical room, a spacious interior playroom, and staff offices.
A secure, fenced outdoor play area measuring 2,450 square feet will be situated on the western side of the building. The daycare will operate as a licensed commercial facility, with hours of operation from 6:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.