Amazon.com, which settled a multimillion-dollar sales tax lawsuit with the state this year by promising to invest heavily in Texas, has quietly signed a lease with Hillwood for a 68-acre site in Haslet in the sprawling Alliance development.
The Seattle-based online retailer is also proceeding on a second North Texas site, in Coppell, in a deal with a separate business entity operated by Ross Perot Jr., the owner of Hillwood.Amazon has entered into a 15-year lease -- with a target starting date of Aug. 17 -- with Westport Park No. 7, a limited partnership affiliated with Hillwood, for property along Westport Parkway, according to documents filed with Tarrant County nearly a month ago.But none of the parties have announced the Haslet deal since then.The Coppell project came to light when the City Council approved tax incentives Sept. 25. It said Amazon would lease that property for 15 years.But Haslet has remained mum."I am not at liberty to comment," Mayor Bob Golden said Thursday.A city official said all parties are respecting a nondisclosure agreement that the prospective tenant requested. The bedroom community lies immediately southwest of Alliance Airport.Another filing, also dated Nov. 30, indicates that JPMorgan Chase is providing financing for the Haslet project but does not give details about the amount.Ben Conwell, an Amazon executive vice president for real estate, signed on behalf of the online retailer. Amazon did not respond to a request for comment.A source familiar with the transaction, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to discuss it, said Amazon made clear that it wants to make the announcement -- apparently in the coming weeks -- once it determines how many people will likely be employed at the two North Texas sites.The functions of the two facilities have not been spelled out, but at least one is expected to be used as a fulfillment center for shipping books, electronics and other goods.In a deal with Texas announced April 27, Amazon agreed to pay state sales tax starting July 1, create 2,500 jobs in the state and invest at least $200 million over four years.The joint statement said that all issues had been resolved but did not spell out how Amazon settled a $269 million tax bill that state Comptroller Susan Combs said it owed.It will apparently go unpaid.Earlier, Amazon had promised 6,000 jobs and $300 million in capital investments in exchange for a 41/2-year tax holiday, but the Legislature rejected the offer in 2011.During the dispute, Amazon closed a facility in Irving.Barry Shlachter, 817-390-7718Twitter: @bshlachterHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
