Ryan Cos. US received a $50M construction permit Monday for a 145K SF distribution facility at 100500 South Woodlawn Ave., which will be used by mega-retailer Amazon.

The site was once occupied by Ryerson Steel Mill in Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood, according to Chicago Cityscape.

Amazon said it plans to occupy the facility as part of a push to expand its capacity across the region. Pre-construction site work had already begun, and the developers say they will finish by October.

It’s the latest addition to Pullman Crossings, a 62-acre industrial park Ryan planned with Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, a neighborhood-wide effort that has also brought in the 140K SF Amazon Whole Foods Midwest Distribution Center, the Method Products factory and Gotham Greens’ 100K SF greenhouse at 10636 South Woodlawn Ave.

“This is another huge step in the continuing renaissance in the Pullman community,” 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale told Bisnow. “Crime is declining, and that’s because we’re bringing hope to the community, whether it’s new shopping or hundreds of jobs coming in.”

Amazon said it is anxious to get the facility up and running before the holiday season, he added, and the statewide shutdown orders have made that goal even more important.

“Everything is changing, deliveries are through the roof since everyone is sitting at home and ordering, ordering, ordering. Ryan has three or four crews at work 12 hours a day, six days a week to get the building done by Oct. 31.”

Other Amazon projects are taking shape in the suburbs. Conor Commercial Real Estate just began developing a 162K SF build-to-suit distribution facility at 315 South Hicks Road in northwest suburban Palatine, and according to Crain's Chicago Business, the facility is for Amazon.

Amazon’s expansion across Chicagoland does not surprise Colliers International principal Brian Kling. The internet giant is realigning its business to meet the escalating demand for essential items, which may lead the internet giant to start taking up more space in the near term, he said.

“E-commerce users are the ones who really understand the benefits of being in modern industrial distribution facilities.”

Ryan Co. also recently put the finishing touches on a 400K SF industrial spec building in Pullman Crossings.

“We have a tenant for that building, and we will be announcing it shortly,” Beale said. “Things are really moving out here.”