Patterson's Project X Linked To Amazon Developer

PATTERSON (CBS13) - It's been at least three months since Patterson city leaders announced a large employer was expected to transform a vacant field into a distribution center that would bring at least 1,500 jobs to the distressed area.

But job seekers are feeling left out. That's because critical developments are happening behind closed doors and city leaders remain tight-lipped about the company scheduled to move in and when construction is set to begin.

"People want jobs," local resident Cassandra Allen said. "Let them have them. Don't stonewall them or put them on the backburner."

Documents obtained by CBS13 link the project to a company that's publicly known to have helped build an Amazon distribution center in Tennessee.

They now own about half the 120-acre property in Patterson.

No one at Patterson City Hall will say a word about the huge step forward, but Thursday night's scheduled planning commission meeting has been replaced by a special City Council meeting.

According to the agenda, leaders will discuss zoning code updates, but there's no direct written connection to the so-called Project X.

Residents seeking work hope the city starts informing them of what's ahead.

"Let us know the truth. If you're going to do it, say, 'OK, we're going to do it.' If you're not, let us be prepared so we know what we have to do," Allen said.