For decades, the sprawling industrial complex at 511 N. Grand Avenue served as the physical pulse of Orange County journalism. The roaring printing presses of the Orange County Register churned out millions of print newspapers here, anchoring a localized economy built around manufacturing, mechanical press operations, ink, and daily neighborhood distribution.
Today, the landmark parcel has completed a massive digital-age evolution: the printing machinery is long gone, replaced by a 112,000-square-foot Amazon last-mile distribution facility codenamed DUR2.
While neighborhood discussions have centered on traffic patterns and street safety, a major under-the-radar story is developing behind the gates regarding the shifting nature of the local workforce, the unique way Amazon is filling positions, and the workplace standards governing the building…