By Kelli Latuska
In December of 2023, the Duluth Economic Development Authority closed on the sale of 18 acres of brownfield redevelopment land on the Atlas Industrial Park. Ryan Companies, who purchased the land, has since transferred the land to the industrial park’s anchor establishment, Amazon, for use as a site for one of its distribution centers.
“This is a significant win for our community. Amazon is investing in the commercial tax base of Western Duluth, requiring no public incentives to do so,” said City of Duluth Director of Planning and Economic Development Chad Ronchetti. “We expect this activation on the Atlas site will open the door to much more.”
Atlas Industrial Park, located at 2302 Commonwealth Avenue near the site of the old Atlas Cement plant, was 42 acres of brownfield redevelopment land that is now shovel-ready and available for development.
“Brownfield redevelopment is a long and patient process, but it is critical to reinvestment in a community with a long industrial heritage and brought the transformation of this Industrial Park to life," said Ronchetti. "Current and prior staff are responsible for making this purchase possible, including Heidi Timm-Bijold, the city’s previous business resource manager. Without her vision, and significant support from federal and state partners, these parcels would still hold contaminants on them and not much else.”
Twenty-eight acres of development land remain on the park.