Amazon Reps Visit Former Finkl Steel Site: Report

CHICAGO, IL — Amazon officials were spotted on the city's North Side at the former Finkl & Sons steel site, according to a report by the Chicago Sun-Times. The officials were reportedly taking pictures and notes at the site last week. The property is located on the east side of the Chicago River near Bucktown.

Developer Sterling Bay created renderings of what the Amazon site would look like, as the main tenant in a 28-acre, $10 billion riverfront mega-development that would include the old steel site. Plans for the project–named 'Lincoln Yards'–include retail, housing and office space in low- and mid-rise buildings.

The old steel site is the first location visited by Amazon officials in Chicago, the the Sun-Times reported. The state of Illinois has been trying to entice Amazon to launch its second headquarters here, and Lincoln Yards was one of ten sites proposed.

The city has offered the company a $2.25 billion incentive package, which includes about $1.4 billion in state EDGE tax credits, $60 million in property tax breaks, and free land worth $100 million if Amazon chooses to build HQ2 at the old Michael Reese Hospital site.

Amazon plans to spend around $5 billion building and running its second headquarters, which is expected to create 50,000 jobs in the chosen city.

A rendering of the proposed Lincoln Yards Amazon development. Image credit: Sterling Bay.