Dear Jeff Bezos: Please Please PLEASE do not build your new HQ in the Bay Area! The traffic congestion and air quality simply will not support another 50,000 or more people and cars. Please consider building in a place like Rio Rancho, NM, where there's plenty of room, good people to employ, and an economy that can use a boost.
5
Why not low Earth orbit? In about 200 round-trips, Blue Origin rocket payloads could provide enough materials to build-out the best corner office views ever. Most hires will be <= 35 yo anyway and can pass the Astro-zom physical. Need a millennial latte, the Amazon HoloDeck materializes it. Delivery UAVs will drop out of orbit and deliver right to your front porch, from the USA, Antartica, to the Ivory Coast, AMZN got you covered. Zero state or municipal tax dollars, known a silly money to politicians, needed. Let's think big baby!
5
I hope Denver does NOT make the short list for HQ2 as we already have too many people here along with a growing and nauseating San Francisco, Seattle, and Portland mentality.
5
Maybe along the Philly-DE-Baltimore corridor? Diversifies their presence for distribution purposes- one east coast, one west coast. I-95 corridor includes multiple airports and trains from D.C. up through NYC/Boston. Cost of living and traffic typical for major metro areas. Highly educated workforce, with tons of major colleges and universities. While they don't have to put the HQ building within city limits, this could have spillover benefit for the areas of Philly and/or Baltimore that could use a boost. And plenty of 'blue state' values consistent with what their workforce would expect. And you've got everything from mountains to oceans within an hour or two drive.
4
Maybe somewhere between Milwaukee and Madison, WI. Stellar state universities, including crowing jewel U of Wisconsin. Plenty of space to develop, although Milwaukee's airport, international in name only, is not a major hub, limiting the availability of non-stop flights.
State income tax rates though are among the highest in the nation. If this development could be a catalyst to reduce that tax burden, this might be a good location. Definitely won't meet all of the demands, but worth a look.
State income tax rates though are among the highest in the nation. If this development could be a catalyst to reduce that tax burden, this might be a good location. Definitely won't meet all of the demands, but worth a look.
As a resident of Nor Cal and 35 miles outside San Francisco, I hope we're not on the list. SF proper is already "owned" by employees of Google and Apple. Mass transit is busting at the seams, and home prices are already among the highest in the nation. All that leaves is an ill-equipped but international airport (SFO).
Oakland is a possibility I guess.
Thanks, but no thanks, Mr. Bezos.
Oakland is a possibility I guess.
Thanks, but no thanks, Mr. Bezos.
3
Scanning their HQ2 requirements, it makes it clear they Amazon 'needs a village'. So instead of hunting for tax exemptions, they should be proud to contribute to the schools, highways, public transportation etc they rely on for the workforce they need to recruit.
8
For the sake of his company and given Trump's misgivings about Amazon, Bezos is well advised to select a location inside the US, probably Boston or Atlanta, as another commenter noted.
My guess is Atlanta. Cost of living there, while not inexpensive, is far less expensive than Boston.
My guess is Atlanta. Cost of living there, while not inexpensive, is far less expensive than Boston.
2
Assuming that most cities will pony up with the tax incentives...
- Eliminate cities with no local international airport
- Eliminate cities with less than 1M people
- Eliminate cities without tier 1 universities
- Eliminate cities where young people do not want to live
- Focus on cities that are technology/innovation hubs now
- Focus on cities geographically distant from Seattle
- Focus on cities with great cultural/quality of life
- Focus on cities politically/socially aligned with Amazon's stated values
= Toronto, Boston
2n place = Detroit, Atlanta
- Eliminate cities with no local international airport
- Eliminate cities with less than 1M people
- Eliminate cities without tier 1 universities
- Eliminate cities where young people do not want to live
- Focus on cities that are technology/innovation hubs now
- Focus on cities geographically distant from Seattle
- Focus on cities with great cultural/quality of life
- Focus on cities politically/socially aligned with Amazon's stated values
= Toronto, Boston
2n place = Detroit, Atlanta
3
Hey Dan, you should have kept your advice secret and sold it to Bezos!
Either way, good analysis. With that many requirements, using the process of elimination makes it easier. My guess is that Amazon has gone through this exercise anyway. I'd bet on Atlanta. Bezos is already on Trump's "nasty people" list. For the good of his company, he would be advised to not locate outside the US.
Either way, good analysis. With that many requirements, using the process of elimination makes it easier. My guess is that Amazon has gone through this exercise anyway. I'd bet on Atlanta. Bezos is already on Trump's "nasty people" list. For the good of his company, he would be advised to not locate outside the US.
1
More is better, buy big, consume huge. When is enough enough.
The sky filled with Amazon drones delivering consumables to the masses.
Implementation of high bandwidth 5G wireless requires a huge increase in the number of cell towers. Like people need to be further addicted. To myself, sans mobile phone, the "solution" is worse than the problem, a scourge on our society/culture.
Lest you think I'm a technological luddite, I work in the field of cybersecurity for U.S. Air Force space systems.
The sky filled with Amazon drones delivering consumables to the masses.
Implementation of high bandwidth 5G wireless requires a huge increase in the number of cell towers. Like people need to be further addicted. To myself, sans mobile phone, the "solution" is worse than the problem, a scourge on our society/culture.
Lest you think I'm a technological luddite, I work in the field of cybersecurity for U.S. Air Force space systems.
3
Amazon faces the usual tripartite conundrum of seeking Good, Fast and Cheap. You can usually get 2 of those but getting all 3 rarely happens.
Amazon will pay dearly for a city having the right airport plus good mass transit. Big cities with good mass transit are crowded and not affordable to the young hip tech crowd that Amazon hires. A big city solution offers Good and Fast, but not Cheap, and may not be Fast due to complexities of large urban areas.
Since this new crop of super rich guys want to build stuff (rockets to Mars, electric cars, space flights, giga factories, solar power) let them try building a new city, designed from the ground up to have mass transit and superb environmentals. This solution will be Good and Cheap, but it won't be Fast as they must build it from scratch, but at least you get what you want.
IMO their best bet is build their own small city in the cornfields near Scott AFB, IL where they have the St Louis airport and the Mid-America airport next to Scott AFB. Land there is Cheap, they could have mass transit built in as part of developing a new town. It’s central enough to the whole nation and weather is mild enough. The St Louis Metro mass transit line already runs out to those cornfields, with the end of the line being the Shiloh/Scott AFB station. There’s adjacent bike lanes and bus lines.
PS: I live in AZ have no iron in this fire.
Amazon will pay dearly for a city having the right airport plus good mass transit. Big cities with good mass transit are crowded and not affordable to the young hip tech crowd that Amazon hires. A big city solution offers Good and Fast, but not Cheap, and may not be Fast due to complexities of large urban areas.
Since this new crop of super rich guys want to build stuff (rockets to Mars, electric cars, space flights, giga factories, solar power) let them try building a new city, designed from the ground up to have mass transit and superb environmentals. This solution will be Good and Cheap, but it won't be Fast as they must build it from scratch, but at least you get what you want.
IMO their best bet is build their own small city in the cornfields near Scott AFB, IL where they have the St Louis airport and the Mid-America airport next to Scott AFB. Land there is Cheap, they could have mass transit built in as part of developing a new town. It’s central enough to the whole nation and weather is mild enough. The St Louis Metro mass transit line already runs out to those cornfields, with the end of the line being the Shiloh/Scott AFB station. There’s adjacent bike lanes and bus lines.
PS: I live in AZ have no iron in this fire.
2
As illustrated time after time on innumerable episodes of "The Office" it's obvious that Bezos will select Scranton, PA.
2
Either NJ or NYC. NYC might be too expensive, I vote for NJ where there is more land. In the very long term, NJ is a good choice, being close to NYC. Maybe somewhere in Long Island possible as well? Basically you want to be relatively close to NYC.
2
"We have not said thank you enough" to Amazon?? Seriously? I'm one of the few Seattleties who has little patience for complaints about inevitable changes and development, and even I would say it's preposterous to say we should be bowing down and kissing Amazon's feet. I'm lucky I've lived in a purchased condo for a decade, since long before Amazon transformed our city core so dramatically. I actually don't mind that so much -- but, if I were renting, I would have been priced out of this city I love so much ages ago. If you think that deserves a "thank you," you're dreaming.
5
Lansing, Michigan. Yes, seriously.
Greedy billionaires. They want tax dollars and cheap immigrant labor.
2
My own prediction is that Amazon will choose Boston, probably somewhere in the same area as the new GE HQ.
Why? Because of the Matthew Effect (i.e., the rich get richer), which is particularly important in technology circles. Where do potential employees want to live? Where everybody else just like them has chosen to live.
And for a dual career family -- the typical family for technology workers -- it's especially good to go where both can get jobs in their industries. Boston has major numbers of jobs in technology, health care, finance, and the law.
Taxes mean something, but being able to attract workers is far more basic.
Of course Amazon would make Boston even harder and more expensive to live in for most people. But Amazon's people would be doing great, just like the Googlers in SF.
I don't see Silicon Valley as a likely choice. It's also on the west coast like Seattle, and would not be likely to be attractive to people who weren't already attracted to Seattle. But there are people who don't or can't move away from the east coast.
Why? Because of the Matthew Effect (i.e., the rich get richer), which is particularly important in technology circles. Where do potential employees want to live? Where everybody else just like them has chosen to live.
And for a dual career family -- the typical family for technology workers -- it's especially good to go where both can get jobs in their industries. Boston has major numbers of jobs in technology, health care, finance, and the law.
Taxes mean something, but being able to attract workers is far more basic.
Of course Amazon would make Boston even harder and more expensive to live in for most people. But Amazon's people would be doing great, just like the Googlers in SF.
I don't see Silicon Valley as a likely choice. It's also on the west coast like Seattle, and would not be likely to be attractive to people who weren't already attracted to Seattle. But there are people who don't or can't move away from the east coast.
1
I'm not vying, but I just can't imagine it being anywhere else except Texas(and Austin). Problem with every other city mentioned is the cost of living, real estate costs(I guess Detroit has an advantage here, but do they have enough tech talent?) and the taxes.
I heard Delaware mentioned which makes sense, but that wasn't a state mentioned in the hunt. Also, I guess Atlanta would have a shot, but how many current tech companies are based their now? Even Home Depot outsources its' technology center to Austin, so if they don't have enough faith to even have Home Depot's tech talent in Atlanta, how could Amazon?
I just can't even see how they came up with Toronto....Not only would it cost and arm and a leg to relocate there, I can even imagine the customs issues that would come up.
The only reason I say Austin over Dallas is a younger workforce, HQ of Whole Foods, and more of the hipster environment that tech companies want to flock.
I heard Delaware mentioned which makes sense, but that wasn't a state mentioned in the hunt. Also, I guess Atlanta would have a shot, but how many current tech companies are based their now? Even Home Depot outsources its' technology center to Austin, so if they don't have enough faith to even have Home Depot's tech talent in Atlanta, how could Amazon?
I just can't even see how they came up with Toronto....Not only would it cost and arm and a leg to relocate there, I can even imagine the customs issues that would come up.
The only reason I say Austin over Dallas is a younger workforce, HQ of Whole Foods, and more of the hipster environment that tech companies want to flock.
1
Are you kidding? If the Justice department were doing its job, they would break up this company.... and a lot of other gigantic mega-companies as well. Huge corporations own us more completely than any tyrannical dictator ever thought of. Seattle, you can keep Amazon, and tax 'em white.
2
Call me crazy: Springfield, Massachusetts
1. 20 minutes to Bradley International Airport
2. Easy access to Mass Pike and other roadways - 1.5 hours to Boston, 3.5 to NYC
3. Vast amount of colleges with qualified candidates (UMASS, Williams, Amherst, WPI, Holy Cross, etc. - not to mention all Boston candidates )
4. Extremely cheap real estate for Amazon's commercial use (Tower Square sky scraper is on the market for ~$35MM) and also housing for employees
5. Short rides to hiking and other recreational activities (Northampton/Amherst, all of Berkshires, Vermont, NH, etc.)
6. Talk of high speed train from Springfield to Boston would also accelerate
1. 20 minutes to Bradley International Airport
2. Easy access to Mass Pike and other roadways - 1.5 hours to Boston, 3.5 to NYC
3. Vast amount of colleges with qualified candidates (UMASS, Williams, Amherst, WPI, Holy Cross, etc. - not to mention all Boston candidates )
4. Extremely cheap real estate for Amazon's commercial use (Tower Square sky scraper is on the market for ~$35MM) and also housing for employees
5. Short rides to hiking and other recreational activities (Northampton/Amherst, all of Berkshires, Vermont, NH, etc.)
6. Talk of high speed train from Springfield to Boston would also accelerate
4
“We have not said thank you enough” to Amazon, Maud Daudon, the chief executive of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, said.
Of course she did. The Chamber of Commerce is the lapdog of big business and will do anything to up profits at the expense of the citizenry's health and well-being. Whatever they get behind, run the other way.
Of course she did. The Chamber of Commerce is the lapdog of big business and will do anything to up profits at the expense of the citizenry's health and well-being. Whatever they get behind, run the other way.
2
Columbus, Ohio. No brainer here. A state legislature that denies climate change but loves tax breaks. A city that is a progressive oasis and a distribution leader in the nation.
1
Syracuse, NY.
1
Detroit.
1
This is about business not social engineering.
5
This is what disgusts me about major corporations. Their motto is:
Ask not what what we can do for anyone (least of all the country that protects and creates our prosperity), but how much more money raised from the taxes of people struggling to survive on the poverty wages we pay can we blackmail out of the hands of moronic elected officials who are desperate to prance a "win" in front of the electorate.
Then we will pay the lowest possible wages to all but a handful of elites while shirking any responsibility to our worker, the state, the nation, and the poor smucks whose tax dollars built our beautiful facilities. Then when the tax bribes are due to expire, we'll start the whole process all over again, screwing some other groups of optimistic, gullible idiots looking for a "win."
But the only people who will win, in the end, be a handful of overpaid executives and a few shareholders most of whom are already wealthy, but are never wealthy enough to feel screwing a few more workers and tax payers is unnecessary!
Ask not what what we can do for anyone (least of all the country that protects and creates our prosperity), but how much more money raised from the taxes of people struggling to survive on the poverty wages we pay can we blackmail out of the hands of moronic elected officials who are desperate to prance a "win" in front of the electorate.
Then we will pay the lowest possible wages to all but a handful of elites while shirking any responsibility to our worker, the state, the nation, and the poor smucks whose tax dollars built our beautiful facilities. Then when the tax bribes are due to expire, we'll start the whole process all over again, screwing some other groups of optimistic, gullible idiots looking for a "win."
But the only people who will win, in the end, be a handful of overpaid executives and a few shareholders most of whom are already wealthy, but are never wealthy enough to feel screwing a few more workers and tax payers is unnecessary!
6
Fools. Kind of like the bidding for the Olympics. Where everyone but a few select entities are losers.
They have destroyed quality of life in Seattle in so many ways. Go & see for yourself. Yes, a beautiful place to be ... in 1975 !
They have destroyed quality of life in Seattle in so many ways. Go & see for yourself. Yes, a beautiful place to be ... in 1975 !
1
Denver, along rail between downtown and airport.
It will be Denver. They have everything Amazon is looking for and more. Perfect fit culturally and great year round recreation. World Class airport, great interstate connections and a place where young, successful, highly motivated and socially liberal young people would want to live. Denver by a mile. A mile high that is...
2
I think they should create a new community on the West Virginia / Kentucky border. (From afar), it seems these areas desperately need to have their attentions redirected to new opportunities, evolving from coal into other industries with more sustainable futures for families, and be an attraction for new families to migrate in because a whole new plethora of opportunities are being built. An Amazon warehouse. Just think what building a community with a big employer and a community college as its anchor could do!!!!! Technical certificate programs for trades, engineering, programming, a new community built by its graduates, housing, roads, infrastructure (clean water systems), schools, markets, health clinics, renewable energy powering the whole thing installed and monitored by its graduates. An economy booming from within and without. This part of the nation could be transformed into a middle class family dream.
2
How about Camden, New Jersey?
I know it sounds ludicrous at the first glance, but it is ideally located between New York City and Philadelphia and given how down and out the city is, Amazon may be in a position to purchase the place and turn it into its own corporate-city.
Now, if only the Garden state had a Governor who could lead the way and make this dream a reality.....
I know it sounds ludicrous at the first glance, but it is ideally located between New York City and Philadelphia and given how down and out the city is, Amazon may be in a position to purchase the place and turn it into its own corporate-city.
Now, if only the Garden state had a Governor who could lead the way and make this dream a reality.....
1
Gosh, I bet John Kasich wishes he hadn't squashed the high speed rail system from Cinci tto Cleveland a few years ago, throwing federal dollars under the train in the process. If he were forward -thinking instead of backward-protecting, Columbus would have been perfect for Amazon's needs. Gee Governor, how about taking another look at all those taxes you slashed on the haves to pay for some sorely needed infrastructures, like mass transit, and renewable energy so we could actually attract those businesses you were promising?
3
"We wanna build new headquarters. Stick 'em up!"
Subsidizing big business with taxpayer dollars is getting waaay out of hand.
Subsidizing big business with taxpayer dollars is getting waaay out of hand.
3
Just a word from Cumberland, Maryland, the obvious choice. We're already imagining a big neon sign over downtown: WELCOME HIPSTERS!
(Never mind that we're 900,000 below the preferred population.)
(Never mind that we're 900,000 below the preferred population.)
If I were to bet, I'd place my money on Montreal. Over half their population is foreign born. Jeff needs the best brains in the world, no matter their ethnicity, religion, sex, etc. Montreal has been a welcoming city for several decades. They have it all over places like Detroit (broken and bent), Austin with humid weather, and, imho, most other cities in the US.
AND, Canada is led by rational people, unlike the US and Seattle (that lost Boeing HQ because they can't control mobs of WTO haters). Lots to like up there. And a beautiful city, too. Go Jeff!! Spread the talent and wealth around. We'll all be richer for it.
AND, Canada is led by rational people, unlike the US and Seattle (that lost Boeing HQ because they can't control mobs of WTO haters). Lots to like up there. And a beautiful city, too. Go Jeff!! Spread the talent and wealth around. We'll all be richer for it.
4
That is not why they lost Boeing.
1
Well, it certainly contributed to it in a big way. The PC sickness so infects Seattle that virtually nothing can get done on infrastructure, etc., in a timely manner. Think how many YEARS it took to get the third runway at SeaTac.
Also, think how they are spending $4 billion of taxpayer money for the tunnel, THAT WILL NOT HAVE ANY MORE CAPACITY OR AND ENTRANCE TO THE MIDDLE OF SEATTLE, when the viaduct could have been made very earthquake stable for $1.2 billion, according to several competent structural engineers. That is fiscal and social insanity.
Also, think how they are spending $4 billion of taxpayer money for the tunnel, THAT WILL NOT HAVE ANY MORE CAPACITY OR AND ENTRANCE TO THE MIDDLE OF SEATTLE, when the viaduct could have been made very earthquake stable for $1.2 billion, according to several competent structural engineers. That is fiscal and social insanity.
Montreal? Hmmm. You say that it's more than "half foreign born." Nope. Plenty of foreign-born people there - but nowhere near half. And the city is in Canada's province of Quebec - whose reaction to foreigners hasn't been as "nice" and welcoming as other parts of Canada. If Amazon chooses up here, Toronto is the place to go.
Why not Detroit?
Toronto vs Everyone (It's a T Shirt)
Bring on the responses.
And BTW send us the 800,000 young, talented DACA immigrants.
Bring on the responses.
And BTW send us the 800,000 young, talented DACA immigrants.
7
Newark. No brainer.
2
Amazon should come to Raleigh North Carolina
but we don't need to be paying them. They need to pay us to expand infrastructure transportation education etc. It's time that major corporations stop free loading and start pulling their weight in this country and we'd love to help them set an example.
but we don't need to be paying them. They need to pay us to expand infrastructure transportation education etc. It's time that major corporations stop free loading and start pulling their weight in this country and we'd love to help them set an example.
5
Northern New Mexico (Albuquerque/Santa Fe): Great climate. Four real seasons. Some of the cleanest air in the US. Very reasonable housing and cost of living. Uncrowded. Dazzling scenery. Beautiful lakes. Great outdoors - hiking, skiing. World class opera. Two national scientific laboratories. Great Northern NM food. More central than coastal cities. Good air and rail connections. I've came from San Diego 20 years ago and have no intention of ever leaving.
5
Right behind Citifield in Flushing and use the tax $ to clean the canals in the area as well. Lots of park space, airports, subways, and the greatest city in the world a short subway ride away.
It seems some areas that think they will bid for the HQ2 are out of the running based on the criteria of being near an international airport (that means multiple flights and destinations, not a couple) and a diverse workforce. One example is St. Louis. Limited international air service, and far from a diverse area. In reality, this will be limited to metro Boston which seems successful in attracting large businesses lately, Metro NY (both JFK and EWR are international hubs), Northern VA (Dulles), Charlotte, Atlanta, and Chicago. Other big cities fall down on diversity. The question is, how much are these cities/states willing to give up? Many believe WI sold its sould for Foxcomm (which has a history of not following through) that will hurt the state for decades.
1
You're wrong about St. Louis and diversity, of course. The influx of Bosnians, e.g., has changed an entire area of the city. To bring you up to date:
https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&q=immigrants+in+st.+louis&am...
https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&q=immigrants+in+st.+louis&am...
I'm from Ohio. Would like to see that as the choice, but all things considered, I'll bet they choose Memphis or Nashville. Major, Major Tax Breaks ( i.e. Bribes) for DECADES. Who wants to wager????
4
Boston, ideal. A winning corporate location.
1
"Could reach 50,000..."
In other words: "You commit to giving us the world. We commit to giving you nothing."
In other words: "You commit to giving us the world. We commit to giving you nothing."
6
Front-page article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch this morning about how St. Louis will compete. The 50,000 jobs will have average salary of $100,000.
Burlington County, NJ The former Roebling Steel Mill has about 250 acres for a corporate campus. Also, it's in between NYC and Philly and off Ext 6 on the Yurnpike.
2
Sunnyside Rail yards after making it a NYS enterprise zone. JFK, the new Roosevelt Island technology campus, 7 train, E and F line, LLR, Brooklyn Queens Expressway, Jet Blue, the Tennis Center and who can't love the Mets, 50,000 plus families, we will barely notice. NYC is the only city that project managers will leave Seattle to expand their creative possibilities and the Rail yards would allow a whole new campus just minutes away from Manhattan and beautiful downtown Jamaica.
Think outside the city-circle. Eschew location. Embrace name cache. Pennsylvania! Possibilities include, but not limited to, Blue Ball, Intercourse, Drain Lick, Vowinckel etc.
3
Great article from Kansas City Star, complete with pie charts and actual numbers, about the immigrants from India etc. who have moved to Kansas City and its suburbs on both sides of State Line and in all five counties. They love the beautiful city.
Read it, Amazon, and move to Truman country!
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article56281480.html
Read it, Amazon, and move to Truman country!
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article56281480.html
2
Petty Island across from Philadelphia -- a quick ferry ride to center city, and the company can claim they are renovating the Camden waterfront and will inject money into that ailing school system. Cheaper, but still very close NYC and DC than Atlanta or Charlotte.
1
SEA-ATL. It fits perfectly.
2
How about the "Golden Triangle" in Southern Ontario? Immediate 20% discount because of the $ difference.
The most educated place in North America. Waterloo has 2 world class Universities. It is also a high tech haven as well & has The Perimeter Institute with world renowned scientists. Toronto is an hour away.
Google, Open Text & many other tech companies are located in Kitchener/Waterloo.
Just saying that they have a ready made market & employees. I will bet we will take Dreamers, too.
The most educated place in North America. Waterloo has 2 world class Universities. It is also a high tech haven as well & has The Perimeter Institute with world renowned scientists. Toronto is an hour away.
Google, Open Text & many other tech companies are located in Kitchener/Waterloo.
Just saying that they have a ready made market & employees. I will bet we will take Dreamers, too.
Philadelphia fits the bill - population, transit, airport, easy access to interstate.
1
Take it to Detroit Michigan...that city needs an economic boost like no other...build it and they will come....
Poughkeepsie, New York. Easy access to mass transportation including Stewart Airport 30 miles south in Newburgh, New York. Home to Marist, CIA and Vassar Universities. Growing local business and night life. Prime real estate, low property taxes, low crime rate, excellent private and public school system. Very folksy life style.
Fascism takes a greater hold.
The working class should only agree to work if they get tax concessions, too.
The working class should only agree to work if they get tax concessions, too.
2
I would suggest Kansas City or Overland Park, KS. Centrally located, not hurricanes, educated, stable workforce with good work ethic.
3
Indianapolis!
Anyone ever heard of hubris?
3
Mr. Sawant is absolutely right, "business friendly" is code for corporate slush. The stuff about livability, ease of recruiting, proximity to universities and pie in the sky estimates of potential employment figures at some far horizon, is corporate propaganda designed to make the final, sordid deal more palatable to taxpayers.
Give Amazon a decade free of all forms of state and local taxes, a decade of reduced rates for electricity, sewer and water, new access roads and free site preparation, exemptions allowing them to build what they like where they like, and Amazon would build their headquarters in Soddy Daisy, TN.
And if it doesn't work out and Amazon moves their headquarters elsewhere in a few years, the Supreme Court has ruled local and state governments (a.k.a taxpayers) are stuck with the bill. Forever. No recourse.
Corporate slush in addition to a massive cut in a fictional corporate tax rate! I am giddy with anticipation.
Give Amazon a decade free of all forms of state and local taxes, a decade of reduced rates for electricity, sewer and water, new access roads and free site preparation, exemptions allowing them to build what they like where they like, and Amazon would build their headquarters in Soddy Daisy, TN.
And if it doesn't work out and Amazon moves their headquarters elsewhere in a few years, the Supreme Court has ruled local and state governments (a.k.a taxpayers) are stuck with the bill. Forever. No recourse.
Corporate slush in addition to a massive cut in a fictional corporate tax rate! I am giddy with anticipation.
17
This corporate blackmail of cities has to stop. The way to do it is for the Federal government to tax these ill-gotten gains and redistribute the proceeds to the 'losing' cities. After all, we are one nation.
16
With so much talent already flocking to major cities such as NY, Boston, Austin, DC.. I hope Amazon takes this opportunity to revive cities on the decline or give undervalued cities a boost. We need to distribute educated and technology-skilled workers.
I hope Amazon seriously considers relocating to states such as PA, MI, OH, or WI. What about Philly? Or Columbus?
I hope Amazon seriously considers relocating to states such as PA, MI, OH, or WI. What about Philly? Or Columbus?
12
Excellent suggestions. The corridor between Milwaukee and Madison is near ideal. Who needs mass transit when housing is so affordable?
Milwaukee, however, has an international airport in name only. Having lived there, you can't get anywhere fast from the Milwaukee airport. That's not to say it couldn't be expanded.
Just wear some warn clothes, and Google "layering for cold climes".
Milwaukee, however, has an international airport in name only. Having lived there, you can't get anywhere fast from the Milwaukee airport. That's not to say it couldn't be expanded.
Just wear some warn clothes, and Google "layering for cold climes".
No question Philadelphia. Centered between NYC and D.C. with easy access to both by highways and trains. Huge number of colleges and universities in nearby radius ( uPenn, penn state, Drexel , Lehigh , Swarthmore, Haverford Coll, Temple U to name a few) in a short radius with many highly trained and tech savvy individuals. Huge and growing millennial population. Popular and abundant cafes coffee shops restaurants ; highly walkable city with great night life, dining and cultural opportunities. Close by to seashore ( one hr) and mountains. Climate more temperate than Chicago or Boston being in Mid/Atlantic.
3
The shore is never one hour away when it matters. And the local schools are unfortunate. But between PHL and EWR and all of the things that you list, there is a lot to recommend it.
3
I disagree with what the writer said about the Chicago area. Chicago has huge financial debt and can use a boost. It is also positioned well in terms of access to the rest of the country, and will not be threatened by hurricanes (no offense coastal towns!). Rahm Emanuel is also a really good mayor to work with, I believe.
2
On the face of it, Boston would seem to be the bullseye city. It is already home to Amazon Robotics and is perfectly positioned to expand the work force for Amazon's most profitable AWS division. It's got the social values alignment and the nation's best university ecosystem. That being said, Bostonians are already starting to complain about how Amazon would negatively impact traffic and housing prices in this already very expensive region. Truth be told, Boston already suffers from the exact same concerns Bezos is now feeling in Seattle. Sadly, this will likely rule out what would otherwise seem to be a great fit.
1
Why just a 'second' headquarters? In a connected age, a distributed management model would certainly seem possible. Better resilience, easier to site, and more opportunity around the country.
2
I'm surprised to see that a large number of commenters think that Amazon will care deeply about the values of the city that it chooses.
It seems very, very likely to me that it will choose the city that gives it the steepest tax breaks and incentives while meeting the basic criteria of size and location. I doubt there will be much deliberation beyond that. Amazon is not know for hand-wringing over working conditions, pay, etc
It seems very, very likely to me that it will choose the city that gives it the steepest tax breaks and incentives while meeting the basic criteria of size and location. I doubt there will be much deliberation beyond that. Amazon is not know for hand-wringing over working conditions, pay, etc
5
Go to Portland Maine. It's a little gem of a city, and Maine could really use the jobs. Cheaper to live than the other New England states, too. For Portland this would be a game changer.
I suppose Hartford or New Haven could use help too, but those are not particularly nice communities.
I suppose Hartford or New Haven could use help too, but those are not particularly nice communities.
Hopefully the traffic jams on I-25 will put Denver out of the running. We can't survive more gentrification.
2
The Midwest has historically been Ground Zero for distributors since transportation and a central US location is most important.
Chicago's West Loop is booming and has all the amenities that AMZN says it wants in a new location. Northwestern, IIT, UofI, and UW-Madison are great places to recruit local talent.
Detroit could use the economic boost and property is cheap. UM and MSU are great schools that could be a source for talent.
I hope they end up here in Chicago but given some of the issues with city and state finances and government, they may want to look elsewhere.
Chicago's West Loop is booming and has all the amenities that AMZN says it wants in a new location. Northwestern, IIT, UofI, and UW-Madison are great places to recruit local talent.
Detroit could use the economic boost and property is cheap. UM and MSU are great schools that could be a source for talent.
I hope they end up here in Chicago but given some of the issues with city and state finances and government, they may want to look elsewhere.
1
I think that more businesses should look into coming to Mississippi. We have plenty of land for the company to grow. We also have plenty of people looking for work. Cost of living is lower and property taxes are less.
Unfortunately your state has not invested in educating its population. Then add the unhealthy lifestyles, obesity and lack of ethic and international diversity and Mississippi like the rest of Trump Country is an unattractive option for a global business like Amazon.
4
With the amount of tax credits and breaks Amazon will surely be demanding, and the amount of new infrastructure accommodating 50k plus people will take, any smart city should stay as far away from this deal as possible.
1
Before selecting a city, Amazon should clarify what sort of job skills will be
needed. Imagining 50,000 new high level technical positions is a bit of a stretch.
Perhaps they're really looking for 1,000 well-paid techies plus 49,000 distribution folks, who are low skilled and badly paid.
There's a place for everything, but Amazon needs to explain.
In any case, here's another vote for Detroit.
needed. Imagining 50,000 new high level technical positions is a bit of a stretch.
Perhaps they're really looking for 1,000 well-paid techies plus 49,000 distribution folks, who are low skilled and badly paid.
There's a place for everything, but Amazon needs to explain.
In any case, here's another vote for Detroit.
5
50,000 jobs! Think about that in reverse.
50,000 jobs is about the number of jobs ultimately lost when General Electric essentially abandoned the "Electric City", Schenectady New York. That was about 30,000 GE jobs, plus a huge number of associated jobs that supported that lost community, every type of service from teachers, to plumbers to workers in stores.
Multiply Schenectady's story by all the similar stories, some as big, some smaller, all across this country, and you realize what the CEOs and the stockholders have done to hurt America.
It wasn't the immigrants or the politicians who did this to America. It was the CEOs and stockholders.
50,000 jobs is about the number of jobs ultimately lost when General Electric essentially abandoned the "Electric City", Schenectady New York. That was about 30,000 GE jobs, plus a huge number of associated jobs that supported that lost community, every type of service from teachers, to plumbers to workers in stores.
Multiply Schenectady's story by all the similar stories, some as big, some smaller, all across this country, and you realize what the CEOs and the stockholders have done to hurt America.
It wasn't the immigrants or the politicians who did this to America. It was the CEOs and stockholders.
10
This really sounds self-centered but I think about where I and my friends would like to live. And based on that, I would say Pittsburgh and Denver, as suggested by other commenters, have a pretty good shot.
(Let me give some background:
I have relatives and lots of friends in tech. I grew up in Seattle, my family lives in Bellevue (where Amazon is expanding to in the PNW), and I currently live in Silicon Valley. I'm a highly educated immigrant, albeit not in tech, and fairly liberal politically. Several of my friends are in interracial marriages so they probably wouldn't want to live in areas where they or their kids would be treated differently or given the side-eye. I like higher-density areas where I can walk to the places I need to go. The weather is important to me -- not too hot and not too cold -- and I enjoy the outdoors. )
If Canada, Vancouver would be a great choice but cost of living in BC is not cheap.
(Let me give some background:
I have relatives and lots of friends in tech. I grew up in Seattle, my family lives in Bellevue (where Amazon is expanding to in the PNW), and I currently live in Silicon Valley. I'm a highly educated immigrant, albeit not in tech, and fairly liberal politically. Several of my friends are in interracial marriages so they probably wouldn't want to live in areas where they or their kids would be treated differently or given the side-eye. I like higher-density areas where I can walk to the places I need to go. The weather is important to me -- not too hot and not too cold -- and I enjoy the outdoors. )
If Canada, Vancouver would be a great choice but cost of living in BC is not cheap.
4
Not in tech, love Seattle. Having moved from the midwest 20 years ago for (real) mountains, salt water and internationally known culture, I could not imagine moving back to the Midwest. I can't imagine an urban techie wanting to live in a number of places mentioned (no names as not to insult).
I could picture the people Amazon seeks thinking Denver is desirable. Vancouver, BC is astronomically expensive, although wonderful to visit. NC would seem like a possible choice, except for the hostile politics to critical thinking, science and diversity. I won't even give my tourist dollars to NC-I'd be disappointed in Mr. Bezos if he chose NC with as backwards as the politicians there are.
I could picture the people Amazon seeks thinking Denver is desirable. Vancouver, BC is astronomically expensive, although wonderful to visit. NC would seem like a possible choice, except for the hostile politics to critical thinking, science and diversity. I won't even give my tourist dollars to NC-I'd be disappointed in Mr. Bezos if he chose NC with as backwards as the politicians there are.
5
Appalachia, specifically Knoxville, TN. Great climate, low cost of living, lots of water and mountains to enjoy. It's within driving distance of 80 percent of U.S. population. You build it. They will come from every overbuilt city in the sunbelt and northeast.
1
Chattanooga or bust!
If the weather in Winnipeg Manitoba over the last year is the new normal there really is no other choice. The Northwest Passage through Churchill to Asia , the center of North America, the rail hub of North America make Winnipeg the reasoned choice.
Great schools and universities, low cost housing, an educated and enterprising work force make Winnipeg a prime candidate.
Winnipeg has everything going for it including the fact that it was was a major Canadian city and is looking to again become a major Canadian city.
The once center of Canada's rail system seems an ideal hub for Amazon with its ability to become the major hub for air, water and highway transportation.
The map tells me everything I want to know. Aside from affordability it has location , location , location.
Great schools and universities, low cost housing, an educated and enterprising work force make Winnipeg a prime candidate.
Winnipeg has everything going for it including the fact that it was was a major Canadian city and is looking to again become a major Canadian city.
The once center of Canada's rail system seems an ideal hub for Amazon with its ability to become the major hub for air, water and highway transportation.
The map tells me everything I want to know. Aside from affordability it has location , location , location.
1
Well clearly Tucson, Arizona should be considered. There is sun all year, shirtsleeves in January. (In case you didn't get it, no snow!) There are mountains, streams, lakes, lotsa desert, Saguaros (cactus for the uninitiated), excellent beer, cool Bisbee nearby, with Mexico 70 miles away. Adding to the luster of the natural environment is an excellent university, community college, and sound school system. There is ample room to build and grow. A mercifully uncrowded airport and good road system. The few drawbacks-not with Tucson itself-mostly concern the state legislature. Unfortunately dominated by economic illiterates, freedom-restricting dolts, and a wishy-washy governor, they might object to a diversified workforce. But hey, ya can't have everything.
3
The old Merk Headquarters in White House Station, NJ would be perferct. Already set up to get started, plenty of room for a huge campus, 1/2 to Jersey City/NYC (no traffic) or use the helo pads, runs pararell with interstate, close to audible HQ, JC, NYC hubs, all the NJ warehouses in close proximity. Huge solar farm, eco friendly campus, could actually be built to have 50k employees. Stevens Inst, Princeton, Rutgers, NJIT. Close to NYC Culture/Biz, Bridgewater/Shorthills Mall, jersey shore, PA/NJ mountains, US Equestrian HQ, PGA HQ, Fiddlers Elbow Golf. Bingo!
3
If NJ, how about Princeton, NJ? 45 mins to Philly, 60 mins to NYC, 45 mins to both Newark and Philly airports, talent, etc.
1
Chattanooga Tn has a lot of pastures on I-75t that would make a perfect location for another Amazon hdqrts...you guys need one in eastern part of country, we are near Atlanta Ga, near Railroads, major trucking company's. We could use the employment or you could always try the Appalachian area in W Va. In Chattanooga area, we have a lot of education close by, Vanderbilt University, University of Tennessee. Also Oak Ridge, ORNL built the bombs that ended WWII, a lot of history here...In Chattanooga, we have the fastest Internet svc in the country through EPB. you may have your minds made up already, but consider the type of person you could employ here on I-75....just saying..
2
Really, Detroit could be the place to go. Imagine what 50,000 well-paid jobs could do for that city? And who needs subsidies when they're practically giving away land there?
This trend toward subsidies and tax breaks to big corporations is deeply disturbing; a pity cities/states don't band together to fight this. It's a "beggar thy neighbor" gambit that erodes every region's tax base, not to mention picking winners and losers, since Amazon will get the break, but not the corner bookstore.
This trend toward subsidies and tax breaks to big corporations is deeply disturbing; a pity cities/states don't band together to fight this. It's a "beggar thy neighbor" gambit that erodes every region's tax base, not to mention picking winners and losers, since Amazon will get the break, but not the corner bookstore.
12
Columbus, Ohio - "Surprisingly OK"
2
The location has not been picked, the building isnt built so rhese 50000 jobs are like the last 10 pounds I have been trying to lose - a goal not a present day achievement.
3
Sure they want a million people with great schools and low taxes. And subsidies. Sounds like corporate welfare, smells like corporate welfare, so it must be ..... and don't forget the bidding war. Every time an Amazon Prime package is delivered, think about what it really costs. What about the workers handing the transaction as 'contractors,' with no 'jobs' or benefits or security? Forget about what Amazon says. Think and ask lots of questions. Especially how many US employees it will hire as direct employees of Amazon. I wager this announcement is PR rubbish by that measure.
6
Chicago is the perfect location. 6 universities - two of which are top in the nation; a broad and highly educated work force including tech; moderate housing prices; an international airport; a solid public transportation system; a beautiful, clean city with a huge waterfront and parks, worldclass restaurants, entertainment and culture; open land available; centrally located; not congested like East coast cities. A mayor who loves Amazon!!
6
Somewhere bordering PA/NJ/NY area for same day delivery advantage with Whole Food integration in mind and reasonable labor, land cost and labor availability Plus drone delivery to mass market nearby.
2
Be forewarned what Amazon will do to your city and be prepared to:
- Ensure you have a robust transportation system and roads that can handle the added traffic
- Get ready to sit in traffic
- Increase the number of rentals, as Amazonians don't stay long nor are they invested in the community
- Increase the value of property therefore shutting out many low/middle income workers (see above need for robust transportation)
- Engage with hords of young men who don't make eye contact, don't have families but lots of dogs
- Build lots of bars
- Have crowded sidewalks
Signed, impacted-by-Amazon-in-Seattle
- Ensure you have a robust transportation system and roads that can handle the added traffic
- Get ready to sit in traffic
- Increase the number of rentals, as Amazonians don't stay long nor are they invested in the community
- Increase the value of property therefore shutting out many low/middle income workers (see above need for robust transportation)
- Engage with hords of young men who don't make eye contact, don't have families but lots of dogs
- Build lots of bars
- Have crowded sidewalks
Signed, impacted-by-Amazon-in-Seattle
10
I grew up in Seattle. most people I know hate amazon. it's changed the city's cultural fabric in an irreversible way. all the aspects that make your city unique will be erased and replaced with bland more-of-the same instagram latte coffee shops and ugly, tasteless "modern" apartment buildings. all the cool old houses and businesses? gone. the fun awesome interesting quirky people you meet? replaced with corporate sheep who are oblivious to their collective impact on a city and won't shut up about "how much cooler seattle is than the Midwestern town they came from". bitter? yes I am.
24
My guess is they will pick east Austin - 10 minutes from the airport and a major highway.
Game over for the whole city - maybe my kids can cash in!
Game over for the whole city - maybe my kids can cash in!
1
The best place to make another headquarter for Amazon is go to Canada, Vancouver. There will be no as much restrictions as in USA.
3
Lots of great cities mentioned, but don't forget this
"Amazon insists that its new project have on-site access to mass transit"
"Amazon insists that its new project have on-site access to mass transit"
1
Chattanooga, TN. We may not have the population, but we have low taxes, low-cost housing, one of your warehouses is nearby in Cleveland, TN. International airports less than 2 hours away in Nashville and Atlanta. We do have a great airport. VW new plant here, other new large businesses thriving. We're one of the best places for sports and recreational activities with rock climbing, running, swimming, hang gliding, etc. World famous Ironman is here this weekend. Oh, and EPB...talk about fiber optics...best in the world. Check us out!
The empty Longaberger basket building outside of Columbus would make for a fantastic second HQ.
Chicago is the best! The most fun ....where young people would like to live, play and work. Lake Michigan, the universities, the opera, the Symphony , Cubs, Sox, Bulls and Bears, Lolapalooza, the Loop, Lincoln Park, Ohare, Midway.
If Amazon wants the best come to Chicago. It's fun and affordable. World class with daily flights to all major cities in the USA and to the rest of the world!
If Amazon wants the best come to Chicago. It's fun and affordable. World class with daily flights to all major cities in the USA and to the rest of the world!
3
Burlington County, NJ We have about 250 acres of the old Roebling Steel Mill available. Close to the NJ Turnpike and between NYC and Philly!
1
Please consider Norfolk, VA, Mr. Bezos. We have all your requirements plus a huge deep water Atlantic port, three nearby airports, so many people available in the labor poor because of shipyard closings, great schools and many colleges, low cost of living and affordable housing, fantastic weather, the Chesapeake Bay, a world class symphony orchestra, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge tunnel, the railroads, and really polite people. Any part of our Hampton Roads area would welcome you -- but I hope you'll consider Norfolk or revitalizing Portsmouth.
Montreal, a cosmopolitan multicultural university city with a large population of creative people with high tech skills; the North American capital of 3D animation, artificial intelligence, indie music, circus arts, experimental dance, humour venues. A city with the largest number of universities of any city in North America, a city of festivals, tolerance, a sizeable gay community, two main languages; french and english. Low rents, affordable housing, an excellent quality of life. A quartier dedicated to the circus arts, another to multimedia, and another still to the performance arts. A young, dynamic, creative and passionate city with a soul. Three million people - not too large - but large enough to be seriously cosmopolitan. I adore Montreal.
3
Montreal's culture is not Amazon's culture. Winnipeg with its location educated work force and ability to accommodate a hundred thousand more people seems ideal. Climate changes have given Winnipeg the best summer in North America and the winters are more moderate. If the weather of the last year continues Winnipeg becomes not only a logical choice but the only choice.
1
I'm hearing rumors that they're considering Minneapolis/St. Paul. They have at all, but I'm not sure they want Amazon bad enough (Read: they don't want to be the next fad destination and prefer the quiet giants types like 3M, Cargil, Medtronic....)
4
Interesting that, in an age of gigabit/second telecoms, astounding virtual reality, and team-oriented software, a company that reaches into every home across the globe finds it necessary to physically bring it's human resources together in one, and now two, tiny focal points - tens of thousands in a couple of cities.
Are they really all that creative?
Are they really all that creative?
4
Michigan has many fine colleges including the U of M, Wayne State, Eastern University, Michigan State and so many more. Michigan has a great international airport that's easy to access, inexpensive housing, a diverse population. No other state has two peninsula's and bordered by all the Great Lakes. The beautiful, Great Lakes have some of the most beautiful beaches with affordable waterfront. No hurricanes, earthquakes, droughts, or temperatures in the 100's day in and day out like in Texas or Arizona ! Yes, winter but hockey games with the Detroit Redwings and a great music scene...Jack White, Bob Seeger, Motown, Madonna, Stevie Wonder and the list doesn't stop there ! Fall time in Michigan is one of the best ... absolutely beautiful! The people in Michigan have a real mid-western, work ethic and are just nice !
4
Be true to your stated principles, place the second headquarters in a state that values education, opportunity for all and civility. Although that will exclude my home state (and surrounding states) it is the right thing to do.
8
Upstate Albany area is nice. Albany is like a big town, Plenty of outdoor activities for every season. Vermont and New Hampshire are a easy drive. Lake George has summer boating activities and the lake is clean. Skiing is straight down and the hiking is straight up. You will see the sun more often than in Seattle. I would say Albany would not disappoint an outdoors inclined person. I've lived and worked in Albany and spent many summers in Seattle, hiking, when in college. NYC is not too far away.
4
When Amazon suggests "special legislation may be required", I hope that it is alluding to legislation that would guarantee civil rights to all including the LGBTQ community, implementation of strong environmental protection and conservation, expansion of access to the ballot, support for dreamers, support for strong public education from pre-K through State Universities, and strong labor protection, including a livable minimum wage. That is, someplace like Seattle, a city that welcomes such measures, in a progressive State. Cities in States such as Texas, Wisconsin, Kansas, North Carolina, Alabama, and others need not apply to host H unless their States are willing to rollback some of their draconian laws and implement such measures.
7
There is one great moderately sized city with a major university, a state capital, and many many recreational opportunities nearby. The state has gone red, but this could really set it as progressive.
Madison WI. Not quite a million, however Milwaukee is 80miles away, Chicago 120 miles, and Minneapolis/St Paul 250 miles.
Madison is now 250,000 with a metro of 650,000. Draw that 150mile circle you must have 10 million.
Madison WI. Not quite a million, however Milwaukee is 80miles away, Chicago 120 miles, and Minneapolis/St Paul 250 miles.
Madison is now 250,000 with a metro of 650,000. Draw that 150mile circle you must have 10 million.
3
Soon Jeff Bezsos will purchase several Middle Eastern countries and the entire North Korean missile program. Eventually he will own the world as we know it and live on a suspended plateau above the Amazon River.
All humans will have Amachips inserted at birth for eventually purchasing all that's necessary for an exemplary American lifetime.
Perhaps he will begin this program in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
All humans will have Amachips inserted at birth for eventually purchasing all that's necessary for an exemplary American lifetime.
Perhaps he will begin this program in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
7
Still hasn't announced his will. Having no children may have been part of the plan. Ss Mr. Keynes famously said (paraphrasing), why do we expect wicked people to do wonderful things?
3
What's this? An industry that is growing and hiring AMERICANS?
How about a state capital? Seems they never get the goods.
1
Albany NY has suggested...Albany, NY.
2
Austin?
1
Nah. Who needs 50,000 six figures per annum jobs for elitist techies. Let's plunder public lands, 'bring back beautiful clean coal' (they wash it, by the way, it's wonderful) and a thousand or so jobs tending some heavy machinery to knock down a mountainside or three. That's the future.
4
Having shoveled coal into a boiler and hauling out the iron barrels filled with the remains up a flight of stairs I shoveled out of that boiler at age 10 daily before school, there's nothing clean about coal. Really.
2
With all that's going on in the U.S. with respect to immigration and talent flow, Amazon would be crazy not to give serious consideration to Toronto: an emerging global leader in AI, with U of T right there and U Waterloo nearby, one of the most diverse cities in the world, very pro-immigrant policies, LGBT friendly, vibrant culture.
8
Cities should not offer Amazon any incentives. Rather, it is a privilege for a company to operate in such great places like New York, Boston, Chicago.
6
The citizens of Raleigh-Durham and Austin agree with you.
3
as a stockholder in Amazon I am amazed at all the anti-subsidy comments on this thread.
Why do so many NY Times readers not understand how capitalism works and the free market system works? Amazon, by asking for significant subsidies, does.
Why do so many NY Times readers not understand how capitalism works and the free market system works? Amazon, by asking for significant subsidies, does.
3
Because subsidies interfere with truly free markets. You're giving an advantage to one company at the expense of others based purely on the size of the company and how many jobs it produces. In other words, cities are in a race to the bottom to see who can jump on the bandwagon of an already successful company and increase its already insane profits at the expense of competition from smaller firms. How is that a free market?
I honestly have nothing against Amazon - just disagree with your assertion that this is somehow a deominstration of free markets.
I honestly have nothing against Amazon - just disagree with your assertion that this is somehow a deominstration of free markets.
8
Come to Phoenix! Good labor pool, reasonable cost of living & no quakes or hurricanes.
1
While there are significant benefits to being the home of Amazon’s second headquarters, it is clear that though some cities and states may be in desperate need; the city which best fits Amazon’s criteria will be the obvious winner. In my opinion, Chicago would be the best fit city. As for Amazon’s demands, Chicago has two international airports which are both within 45 minutes of downtown. It also has many surrounding highways. As for the population requirement, Chicago far exceeds the one million with a total of 2.705 million residents. All of these inhabitants have access to a myriad of transportation options including the L, Busses, Taxis, and the healthier option of Divvy. In Chicago Amazon would have a hiring pool out of some of the best universities in the country: Northwestern and University of Chicago. Finally, the one criteria that Amazon failed to include but will be a necessary characteristic of the winning city is a population of progressive, open minded citizens. Amazon is known for being in support of many social justice issues. Some being same sex marriage and a woman’s right to choose. And most importantly there must not be any discrimination in regards to race, gender, and sexual orientation/identity, as Amazon does not support social injustice.
9
Isn't Chicago just about bankrupt and tax crazy? Amazon may be looking for a second headquarters due to Seattle being so tax crazy. It will be interesting to see if Amazon does pick a diverse liberal city, or ends up in a more tax friendly one!
1
If Amazon moves to your state, don't expect much tax benefit. The company is paying income taxes at a rate of 4.33% The federal corporate rate is 35%.just in case you forgot.
3
Tampa... No snow, no income tax, lots of outdoor activities, connections to the Caribbean, two huge colleges, beach front property available, great airport, space to grow.
3
And a great chance to experience climate change on the front lines: hurricanes, higher sea tides, etc. Can hardly wait.
5
Irma.
2
Interesting option.
Unfortunately not the most educated city in America.
No noteworthy universities nearby.
Unfortunately not the most educated city in America.
No noteworthy universities nearby.
3
Richmond CA. The land is still relatively inexpensive, near a port and railway, have the pick of the crop employment wise from the S.F. Bay Area, real estate is still affordable in Contra Costa County, a reverse commute from S.F.
2
Kitchener-Waterloo Ontario Canada. Downtown Kitchener boasts an Innovation District. Google is also there. One hour from Toronto. Great universities. Culture too (Stratford Festival is 40 minutes away).
1
Too cold bubba.
1
Vallejo California, because the city council will say No "it not how we envision Vallejo's future, this would bring jobs and cash flow and Amazon would surely want to build something, how could we allow that ?
1
I'd put it in panama. US dollar-check. 4 million people. Low cost of living. Lower wages. Shopping canal. International airport. Lots of countries don't need Visa to enter. Cheap tourist visa for others. Many bilingual people. World class universities. Excellent medical care. Yup.
And, local and state governments will be offering massive taxpayer funded subsidies for the Amazon Headquarters 2, although Amazon has $19,000,000,000 of cash on its balance sheet.
3
And $39,000,000,000 in accounts payable to offset that cash.
Confederacy - any area of the country with retrograde laws on LGBT rights is out - forget it. That means most of the old Confederacy.
Canada - Forget that too. Bezos would get criticism like you can't believe if he chose Canada. Property prices in Canadian cities, especially Toronto and Vancouver, are ridiculous. He plays a long game, and the present vagaries of American immigration policy will not influence him. Besides, Canada's economy is smaller than California's. Not a place for Amazon...
The sentimental favorite seems to be Detroit. It does seem to have advantages - cheap land, cost of living, access to good institutions, but Chicago seems more likely and practical as the pool of talent is so much larger, land is always available, and the city has the political organization to attract big corporations (a la Boeing).
Canada - Forget that too. Bezos would get criticism like you can't believe if he chose Canada. Property prices in Canadian cities, especially Toronto and Vancouver, are ridiculous. He plays a long game, and the present vagaries of American immigration policy will not influence him. Besides, Canada's economy is smaller than California's. Not a place for Amazon...
The sentimental favorite seems to be Detroit. It does seem to have advantages - cheap land, cost of living, access to good institutions, but Chicago seems more likely and practical as the pool of talent is so much larger, land is always available, and the city has the political organization to attract big corporations (a la Boeing).
1
BUFFALO! We meet all of the criteria layer out for Amazon's desired city for HQ2 - not to mention, we're in the middle of an economic boom. Who wouldn't want to capitalize on the resurgence of a great American city? New York currently has lots of incentives for businesses opening in and moving to our fair state. Come on, Amazon!
5
People from Buffalo are very nice people. But it's too cold.
Cleveland. Good transportation, highly accessible from around the country. Rock n Roll Hall of Fame, plenty of housing available in the city and nearby. Costs are not atrocious compared to the East Coast. Closer to the mid-Atlantic region that Boston is. Nice people, too. Excellent medical care--Cleveland Clinic. Do it, Jeff! You could revive Northeastern Ohio.
1
North Carolina would have been an optimal choice if our current state government weren't so regressive and anti-rights/anti-equality to its LGBTQ citizens. I halfway wish Mr. Bezos would call attention to this fact and let our legislators know the folly of their actions.
6
They won't touch NC. It's punishment time. Which is too bad because it might have been a decent fit.
Gotta go with Midwest. Location location location educated work force, cultural diversity, business friendly state governments, did I say location. Minneapolis #1.... Denver #2
But who knows Bezos for him Texas may be calling.. Afterall that is home for him.
But who knows Bezos for him Texas may be calling.. Afterall that is home for him.
2
Come to Minneapolis. There are thousands of IT people with 20+ years of experience still burned by the last 2 recessions looking for meaningful (ie. better paying) work.
2
San Jose! The southern tip of Silicon Valley. Lots of land, waiting to be molded into yet another space ship :-)))). And we have a generous population of liberal thinkers. Let's face it, innovative companies need to be in the vicinity of other similar thinkers.
1
Toronto would be an ideal location. It is located in a country with a stable democracy (no Trump here), a strong economy (Canada is interested in increasing its trading ties with the World, unlike Trumpland down south), a strong foundation in human rights (national recognition of gay and transgender rights, open to international immigration, a belief that government funded healthcare is a fundamental right), a safe environment (Canada doesn't allow its citizens to run around with assault rifles), and a well-educated citizenry. Toronto has great universities (all publicly funded) and an expanding mass transit system.
10
My bet - they will choose NYC or Boston. They already have a west coast presence, and they want to establish a beachhead on the east. Boston is great at producing tech and other knowledge workers, as is NYC. There is a reason GE just moved to Boston, and Google, FB etc. now have smog pretty massive offices in NYC.
5
Boston would be a very good choice, agree. Already solid tech companies, and the best universities in the country.
1
I say spread the wealth. Make HQ2 virtual. Hire 50,000 people and have them all work from home. No one has to commute more than 50 feet to go to work. It will beat living in Ballard and having to wait another 20 years for a light rail link to HQ1.
7
Amazon people who may transfer from Seattle are not going to want to go to a metro area that offers very much less than the current headquarters, especially cold weather that isn't highly recreational, such as with ski areas. Based on that, Denver is the most likely candidate. If they look to the south, Austin or San Antonio might fit the bill. Too much sprawl in Dallas or Atlanta. Detroit may not appear ready enough for Amazon honchos to make that decision. Northeast might include Washington, DC, metro, though housing is expensive and traffic is ferocious. Hartford/NewHaven/Springfield, MA, (pop. 3M) is a sleeper. Much culture, beautiful scenery, educational corridor (Yale, UConn, many other colleges), nearby ski areas, and located about 90 miles from Boston or Manhattan, with dramatically lower housing costs than those two metros. Another sleeper: Overland Park, KS (Kansas City metro area).
6
Poor public transit and skyrocketing housing costs here.
This is fun. If Amazon were to ask me I would recommend Austin, Texas, Charlotte, NC, Denver, or, as an outlier, LA. It is going to be difficult for any city in the Northeast to accommodate an urban campus like the one in Seattle, which covers a sizable portion of the city. Austin is self expanatory; Charlotte is close to the Research Triangle and several excellent universities. Denver would attract programmers, for the lifestyle; and LA has the creatives, and the ability to absorb a spread-out campus.
4
While the internet has made communications possible over long distances, I recommend the DC metro area to forge the corporate-government complex gestalt that is the totality of our lives.
2
Denver. Land, land, land, as far as the eye can see, and the local governments are eager to build up their DIA infrastructure. I bet they'd give huge tax incentives. Central location, and Amazon's a good cultural fit with the city.
2
I think it will most likely be a mid-sized city in the eastern time zone. Probably in the mid-south or eastern Midwest, where property values are low and the effects of climate change will be more bearable (but aren't completely buried in snow in the winter). There are a few cities that make sense: Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus, Raleigh. But the one I think makes the most sense is Charlotte. That's where I'd put my money if I was a betting man.
Amazon will undoubtedly want to attract top tech talent, so they winning city will be either San Francisco, Los Angeles or Boston, never mind that they already have the worst traffic in the country.
1
No worse than Seattle's.
As this will be an HQ and not a warehouse, access to transportation is meaningless. They need to think about where they can attract top talent to go. They don't need a location that has talent, they need a location that can attract talent. If they setup the new HQ in South Florida, for instance, they might be able to attract better talent than in Philadelphia, NYC region, Washington DC or Boston. The "no winter" factor might be the perfect lure. I guess San Diego would win that contest, but I imagine Amazon desires an East Coast location. Hurricane Irma may impact said lure. So that leaves Atlanta and the Mid-Atlantic, as the winters north of here are too long and hard. Philly has easy access to nice beaches in Delaware and of course, the Jersey Shore, if you're desperate. Cheap suburban housing makes Philly a great choice. But property taxes are high. Atlanta probably makes some sense, but who in their right mind would move to Hotlanta from Seattle? Maybe someone sick of the grey ceilings. Also, Amazon will need a big chunk of property. That leaves only one logical place: Bucks County, PA. Just north of Philly, lots of land, lower taxes. gorgeous country, good schools and great towns (Doylestown, New Hope, New Town). Anyone who visits Bucks County will want to live there.
5
I'm sure the cities already in the midst struggling with affordable housing and rising prices through the roof are scratching their heads on how it can all work out.
Make no mistake, the city that gets selected will struggle with even more gentrification issues and ultimately box more people out.
Make no mistake, the city that gets selected will struggle with even more gentrification issues and ultimately box more people out.
2
I fully agree with PhilO
Here in Austin we are ready. Come on and visit Jeff! You and your team will love it here. Low taxes. Good housing. Great educational systems around the city. Home to 250,000 college students within 100 miles (an hour by TX driving standards), enormous software and marketing talent already here.
Here in Austin we are ready. Come on and visit Jeff! You and your team will love it here. Low taxes. Good housing. Great educational systems around the city. Home to 250,000 college students within 100 miles (an hour by TX driving standards), enormous software and marketing talent already here.
4
I agree Austin is a pretty good fit. AMD is there too.
1
What about the demand of on-site access to mass transit? Didn't Austin just recently axe a plan for light rail?
Newark, NJ. It's got the population, it's revitalizing itself and welcoming tech companies, and it is a major transportation hub (air, rail, and sea).
5
A unique option for sure.
Like Detroit but in a more attractive region. Taxes likely an issue though.
Like Detroit but in a more attractive region. Taxes likely an issue though.
1
I'm going to go for an out of the box pick. Many major urban areas are already doing fairly well comparatively and in some ways don't need this kind of investment as much as a smaller city does. I am going to vote for Portland, Maine. It is close to Boston, has a very active port, is quickly improving in terms of rail access, but more importantly, an investment like this could literally be a game changer. It would reverse decades of stagnant population growth, wages, you name it. Amazon choosing Portland would literally change the fortunes of an entire state overnight. It would be a dream come true and I'd love to see it happen!
5
Until it is quickly improving its temperatures it's a no.
I would recommend Amazon consider Montreal. First let me state that I have never been to Montreal let alone live there to promote the home town.
Montreal would do much to project Amazon as a world corporation not just an American corporation.
Montreal has the size required and urban transit system. Montreal also has a large multimedia community in both gaming and film.
For Montreal's relative size it has extensive international airline connections to both North American and other world cities. Montreal also has a vast consulate system of foreign nations, again relative to its livable size. Thus better able to source and advance world trade.
Montreal is an ocean and river port city. A rail center. It has both a major passenger airport and another is a major cargo airport.
The financial and educational infrastructure of Montreal are both world class.
Looking forward a generation Amazon would be well advised to consider Montreal as it moves forward into the world markets.
Montreal would do much to project Amazon as a world corporation not just an American corporation.
Montreal has the size required and urban transit system. Montreal also has a large multimedia community in both gaming and film.
For Montreal's relative size it has extensive international airline connections to both North American and other world cities. Montreal also has a vast consulate system of foreign nations, again relative to its livable size. Thus better able to source and advance world trade.
Montreal is an ocean and river port city. A rail center. It has both a major passenger airport and another is a major cargo airport.
The financial and educational infrastructure of Montreal are both world class.
Looking forward a generation Amazon would be well advised to consider Montreal as it moves forward into the world markets.
3
It's already expanding too much, it's too cold and we don't speak any French.
Why does Amazon need a second headquarters? Makes no sense. Since they will move big into groceries even more than the Whole Foods acquisition, I think this has to do with that. I predict they will chose Austin, where Whole Foods is headquartered, and this is all part of pressure on Texas and Austin for tax deals.
4
Amazon needs a back HQ in case of:
1. 9.0 earthquake in Seattle
2. North Korea nukes Seattle
3. Amazon gets declared a monopoly and gets broken apart.
1. 9.0 earthquake in Seattle
2. North Korea nukes Seattle
3. Amazon gets declared a monopoly and gets broken apart.
1
I'm thinking Milwaukee, Memphis, or Charlotte. (Or, they can just buy Hartford at the bankruptcy auction.)
6
Unsettling news for company town Seattle, where Amazon employs more people than the next 40 largest public and private employers combined. That giant thud you just heard was the sound of thousands of fancy houses in Seattle suddenly dropping a hundred grand in value.
4
Go with a "Republican" state and make sure Jeff Bezos specifically states, that this had NOTHING TO DO WITH TRUMP, rather everything to do with DEMOCRATIC principles! I say Detroit or Philly. Michigan and Pennsylvania sure do have A LOT of electoral votes!
6
Come to Phoenix,
You can wear shirts like 'I survived heat wave 2017' when you go to work. What's not to like?
You can wear shirts like 'I survived heat wave 2017' when you go to work. What's not to like?
2
What's not to like in Phoenix, Arizona? How about Joe Arpaio and the tens of thousands of narrow-minded Arid Zoners who subscribe to his and similar 19th century Reconstruction era sociopolitical views.
Somehow, I'm not seeing that cultural climate attracting a lot of amazon's target HQ employees. The brutal, searing heat is the least of your worries.
Somehow, I'm not seeing that cultural climate attracting a lot of amazon's target HQ employees. The brutal, searing heat is the least of your worries.
6
Memphis Tennessee
Cheap electricity (TVA), great pure water supply (artesian), Sunbelt location, International Airport, Great Interstate Connections, Amtrak (City of New Orleans), Inexpensive housing, Lots of new Biking trails (Greenline and Big River Crossing, etc.), a City Park (Shelby Farms) you could put Central Park in 5 times - 4,500 acres (1,800 ha ) vs 843 acres (341 ha), Great Zoo in another huge park (342 acres), Beale Street, a walkable riverfront, University Town (UT Health Sciences Center, University of Memphis, Christian Brothers University, Rhodes College, etc), large Medical Center, diverse faith community, easy access to lots of outdoor recreation, and a lot of nice old neighborhoods prime to be bought and rehabbed by a new generation at prices well below the national average.
Your employees can live very well here on an income that would just barely get by in Seattle, Austin, Nashville, Atlanta, Denver, etc. Tennessee has no state income tax for your workers and the environment is business friendly. FedEx and International Paper call it home and it is a major distribution center.
The Food and Music are pretty good, as well. Rock, Soul, R&B, the Blues and more than a little Country Music happened and happens here. We get tourists who stay all week just to eat- no kidding.
It's not just Elvis. Like a journalist in the Guardian said a couple of years ago: Memphis is the city Nashville pretends to be.
Cheap electricity (TVA), great pure water supply (artesian), Sunbelt location, International Airport, Great Interstate Connections, Amtrak (City of New Orleans), Inexpensive housing, Lots of new Biking trails (Greenline and Big River Crossing, etc.), a City Park (Shelby Farms) you could put Central Park in 5 times - 4,500 acres (1,800 ha ) vs 843 acres (341 ha), Great Zoo in another huge park (342 acres), Beale Street, a walkable riverfront, University Town (UT Health Sciences Center, University of Memphis, Christian Brothers University, Rhodes College, etc), large Medical Center, diverse faith community, easy access to lots of outdoor recreation, and a lot of nice old neighborhoods prime to be bought and rehabbed by a new generation at prices well below the national average.
Your employees can live very well here on an income that would just barely get by in Seattle, Austin, Nashville, Atlanta, Denver, etc. Tennessee has no state income tax for your workers and the environment is business friendly. FedEx and International Paper call it home and it is a major distribution center.
The Food and Music are pretty good, as well. Rock, Soul, R&B, the Blues and more than a little Country Music happened and happens here. We get tourists who stay all week just to eat- no kidding.
It's not just Elvis. Like a journalist in the Guardian said a couple of years ago: Memphis is the city Nashville pretends to be.
6
Memphis would be a great pick! Nashville is a more obvious pick but it can barely handle the growth it already has. But Memphis could handle Amazon. Maybe Amazon could even take over Tunica.
3
It's not a bad pick. I hope the schools are some of the best in the US.
Oh look. Bezos is doing exactly what he always planned to do: pitting cities against each other in a bidding war for property tax holidays and incentives, then take over the city's core and slowly squeeze more and more concessions out of the "winners." See also: Boeing (which taught Seattle how to play that game) and Walmart (which does it everywhere it goes.) Paying your way is, after all, for little people, unless of course you get squeezed out of your home as a result.
7
Let the race to the bottom begin! Who can offer lower-cost space and lower taxes to Amazon! Who can most quickly assure Amazon that local unions won't do anything messy like demand decent hours and respectful working conditions, which as the NYT recently reported, are often horrendous at Amazon! Step up cities! Offer everything! In return, Amazon will employ a small percentage of your citizens! Those citizens will then busily help Amazon create new technologies which will render the jobs of many of your *other* citizens obsolete! Hooray!
16
Amazon: Move to the NYC area and expand your employment base beyond the youngsters: there are millions of aged 55 and upwards unemployeds here along with and including women and non-White men who welcome getting back into the workforce after having been shown the door in favor of those who felt they would be uncomfortable supervising staff their parents' age. Older folks are loyal, hard working, and experienced: give them a shot. They buy your products, too, you know...
8
Nice move Jeff. Play those desperate cities and states off of one another for perks, subsidies, discounts, land and gifts, and get billions in tax-payer funded benefits.
5
BROOKLYN NAVY YARD! Huge facility with plenty of room for expansion!
3
Here are the cities that I think will have a shot at making a short list. (In no particular order)
Los Angeles - They gain a huge a leg up in the entertainment capital of the world
SFBay Area - They can poach from the cream of the crop in tech
Portland - Employees can take coffee breaks and not feel guilty about it
Austin - Texas cuts a deal at any cost.
Denver - Lifestyle, Denver Airport central
Chicago - Another great Midwest town, w/ great schools
Boston - Maybe they can make GE's deal look like peanuts. Great schools
Minneapolis - Twin cities affordable
Nashville - maybe
Los Angeles - They gain a huge a leg up in the entertainment capital of the world
SFBay Area - They can poach from the cream of the crop in tech
Portland - Employees can take coffee breaks and not feel guilty about it
Austin - Texas cuts a deal at any cost.
Denver - Lifestyle, Denver Airport central
Chicago - Another great Midwest town, w/ great schools
Boston - Maybe they can make GE's deal look like peanuts. Great schools
Minneapolis - Twin cities affordable
Nashville - maybe
4
Hey Amazon, Loudoun County, Virginia is your overall best bet. Richest County in the United States. One of the largest and best School districts in America. Next to Dulles International Airport. 30 miles west of Washington D.C., the center of federal government/lobbying etc.
Hey Amazon, for political reasons, Virginia's Congressional delegation is extremely powerful, so come to Virginia; and, dip your toes into defense-intelligence lucrative contracting opportunities in Loudoun County, VA.
Hey Amazon, Virginia’s Loudoun County boasts an eye-popping median household income of $126,000, tops in the nation, according to 2015 Census Bureau estimates, the most recent available. Almost 10,000 Loudoun residents commute to D.C., but the vast majority of residents find plentiful well-paid job opportunities close to home – the top local employers are Dulles International Airport, the Department of Homeland Security and the Loudoun County Public Schools.
Hey Amazon, Loudoun County also houses a large amount of technology companies and data centers known as Dulles corridor (a.k.a. mini Silicon Valley) — up to 70% of the world’s Internet traffic flows through Loudoun’s data centers each day.
Mr. Jeff Bezos, Loudoun County, Virginia is really your best bet. Check it out! You will be welcome here any day.
Hey Amazon, for political reasons, Virginia's Congressional delegation is extremely powerful, so come to Virginia; and, dip your toes into defense-intelligence lucrative contracting opportunities in Loudoun County, VA.
Hey Amazon, Virginia’s Loudoun County boasts an eye-popping median household income of $126,000, tops in the nation, according to 2015 Census Bureau estimates, the most recent available. Almost 10,000 Loudoun residents commute to D.C., but the vast majority of residents find plentiful well-paid job opportunities close to home – the top local employers are Dulles International Airport, the Department of Homeland Security and the Loudoun County Public Schools.
Hey Amazon, Loudoun County also houses a large amount of technology companies and data centers known as Dulles corridor (a.k.a. mini Silicon Valley) — up to 70% of the world’s Internet traffic flows through Loudoun’s data centers each day.
Mr. Jeff Bezos, Loudoun County, Virginia is really your best bet. Check it out! You will be welcome here any day.
I agree this will be a strong contender.
1
"a stable and business-friendly environment"...Guess that leaves NYC, SF and Boston out of the running.
1
this is a silly comment; you've cited what are possibly the three most thriving cities, business-wise, in the whole country and have accused them of being unfriendly to business. How does that work, exactly?
2
It's inevitable that the Justice Department will go after Amazon for being a monopoly so their headquarters should be in DC where they have access to attorneys and a favorable press.
1
Head about 30-50 miles west of DC and you might have something.
dallas....okc if it were larger. Both are centrally located and near their distribution centers. Also Amazon could help bring much needed change to both of these places by encouraging proper laws etc on the LGBT front. I know that these large businesses standing up for what's right can make a difference. We badly need support in both of these states....esp Oklahoma...for the LGBT community. Seems a large company with some financial muscle could help that happen...... I know the business will be a great asset to whatever community it is in.
San Diego! Near major west coast sea ports, growing technology hub, proximity to major universities, and educated workforce. Plus, it's 70 degrees and sunny year-round! No warehouse shut-downs!
2
Memphis all the way. Fine airport, FedEx hub. Rail/truck intermodal terminal. Junction of Interstates 40 (E-W) and 55 (N-S). No serious snow problems. Population armed to the teeth and ready to go to work.
2
Seattle, wave bye-bye to Amazon. Like Boeing, Amazon took advantage of you to get its start but now finds you too small a pond. As soon as they build up their new offices, you will be their has-been, which will make me glad because they will stop eroding the best of you and you can get back to being yourself.
4
As soon as Amazon and Whole Foods are unionized, I'll be happy to become a customer.
2
You've never bought anything at Amazon?
sad to see the kiss ups here. amazon has to be laughing at to what these municipalities plan to offer. bottom line is, which locale that is willing to let its citizenry suffer under the guise of a corporate giant seeking only greed gets the gig.
1
Fargo, North Dakota
1
Bentonville, Arkansas perhaps? I mean, they'll take it over eventually.
3
Perryville MD.
Centrally located on the East Coast.
Lots of college grads nearby.
On the Chesapeake Bay.
Centrally located on the East Coast.
Lots of college grads nearby.
On the Chesapeake Bay.
1 jellyfish per gallon of water.
Methinks this is just a Bezos headfake to wrest more tax breaks for expanding in Seattle.
5
A swing state, obviously. Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin. C'mon, Jeff, you want real power? What better for Amazon to start delivering than presidents...
6
Lets see. 382K employees, worldwide. 5 billion to build and run. Those are industrial sized numbers which, to me, means we're allowing Bezos to become the next industrialized, robotic bully-on-the-block retail monopoly. I'm sorry, but just the thought of being forced to have to deal with yet another monolithic corporation in which having a customer 'service' department means playing terminal phone tag with a bunch of robotic dunces in order to return anything; or worse, depending on a faceless internet connection with Amazon to keep my credit card numbers from being hacked, leaves me completely c-o-l-d.
I hope to god they go to Toronto, or even Montreal since I know I will rarely if ever buy 'stuff' from them anyway.
I hope to god they go to Toronto, or even Montreal since I know I will rarely if ever buy 'stuff' from them anyway.
4
Let's hope the locals stay alert in the places courting Amazon as the tax breaks and regulatory overlooks could be far more costly than any perceived benefit from this new HQ. Then again, the willingness of cities and regions and across the US to sell their souls to billionaires for a new sports stadium or a factory with a few jobs doesn't inspire optimism. If Bezos and Co actually did the right thing and awarded this project to a place based on honest merits as opposed to the largesse of groveling pols then it could actually set an enviable example.
2
I hope that with a move, the company does a reassessment of their internal culture. For all the success there are many employees who do not share in the largesse or even have time to use the great health insurance that comes in the package. My son was unanimously selected to join the "team"and left after 10 months .Zero support, cutthroat environment, turning on fellow employees non collaborative.
4
Bentonville, Arkansas!
Chicago. Done.
3
You read it here first: Dallas, y'all.
1
Be careful what you wish for. And hope that there is some sort of rent control in place. Since Amazon moved downtown (or, more accurately, since South Lake Union became Amazon), rents and real estate have skyrocketed, the local culture has been subsumed by the needs and tastes of young (burnt out) tech workers, and packs of inattentive 20-somethings roam downtown sidewalk five across.
9
Amazing to read all of the folks in the comments hoping that Amazon comes to their city. I don't think there are very many people in Seattle who wouldn't boot the entire company out, if they had the chance.
Saying that Amazon has gentrified the city doesn't even begin to describe the enormous transformation of Seattle due to the company's growth, none of it positive. Good luck to whatever city they choose. It's a big relief to know the end might be in sight for their growth here, or that at least we won't be always bearing the brunt of it.
http://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/thanks-to-amazon-seattle-is-...
Saying that Amazon has gentrified the city doesn't even begin to describe the enormous transformation of Seattle due to the company's growth, none of it positive. Good luck to whatever city they choose. It's a big relief to know the end might be in sight for their growth here, or that at least we won't be always bearing the brunt of it.
http://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/thanks-to-amazon-seattle-is-...
6
Even if I didn't live here now I'd suggest Memphis with the FedEx hub, lack of a state income tax (which I hate but...), insanely affordable housing and low cost of living in the tri-state Memphis Metro and close to Nashville and Kentucky warehouses. And the city and state whip themselves to attract big business.
Sorry, but there are no non-stop Memphis to Seattle flights.
Any city they choose will automatically get non-stop flights to Seattle. Airlines know how to make a buck.
4
Until Amazon buys an airline.
2
Many people here are rooting for their home cities, and that is fine. I have no dog in this fight. But do not forget a salient point -- Bezos owns The Washington Post. Like it or not, I think the Washington DC area is the obvious frontrunner, either the Maryland or Virginia side.
2
This is excellent news and really makes up for the hundreds of thousands of people who no longer have jobs in the retail markets.
2
How do you think these things work? It's the technology that has revolutionized the retail industry, not Amazon. If it wasn't Amazon, it would be another corporate entity. It wasn't Ford that killed the horse and buggy, it was the combustion engine, and it wasn't Amazon that killed brick and mortar retail, it was the internet.
This is the industrial revolution and free market forces at work, and it's unstoppable. Luddite criticism of Amazon won't change that. Those strip mall jobs are never coming back, no more than the coal mining jobs.
This is the industrial revolution and free market forces at work, and it's unstoppable. Luddite criticism of Amazon won't change that. Those strip mall jobs are never coming back, no more than the coal mining jobs.
2
BOSTON! We're wicked smaht! MIT, Harvard, Tufts, Boston College, Boston University, etc., etc., etc. Great schools for the children of employees, Great sports town. Great culture town with amazing museums and performing arts. Outstanding outdoor opportunities for boating, hiking, skiing and more. Numerous historical attractions and tourism sites in nearby New England. Hop a flight to Europe or Asia for nonstop trips for work or pleasure. It is an ideal place to live.
4
What an opportunity for a reawakening of the labor movement. Come on Bezos, do the right thing.
2
I wonder if Vancouver or Toronto will be on the card. Two benefit - better access to immigrant workers, lower Canadian dollars, same/similar time zone, easy commute (to Vancouver at least). If Amazon is building ground up near an airport, Abottsford in greater Vancouver can be an ideal choice.
In fact they way Trump and Republicans are taking anti-immigrant stance, IT Companies can easily flee above 49th parallel - no H1B hassle. After all a service can reside anywhere in the world, can be developed anywhere in the world.
In fact they way Trump and Republicans are taking anti-immigrant stance, IT Companies can easily flee above 49th parallel - no H1B hassle. After all a service can reside anywhere in the world, can be developed anywhere in the world.
4
For people suggesting their cities, be careful what you wish for. Amazon has impacted Seattle enormously in many ways--our housing availability and pricing (our median house price is now $700k), public transportation crowding, traffic, and culture. Amazon brings with it the diversity problems of the tech industry, which will amplify the diversity issues in your city. For us, this has meant a homogenous cohort that has contributed to accelerated gentrification, a disappearing middle class (who can no longer afford to live close to where they work), increased hate crimes in traditionally gay neighborhoods, and an erasure of identity. Although, if you've ever wished your city had a multitude of tapas restaurats and faux-old-timey bars that serve $15 manhattans, you'll be in luck.
19
To be fair, Seattle as a whole isn't very diverse either, mostly White and Asian, and it has been that way forever.
You are spot on about the faux old-timey bars serving expensive drinks though.
You are spot on about the faux old-timey bars serving expensive drinks though.
1
It woul d be interesting to know their criteria for the city selectioin. In additiion to tax breaks or poltical reasons, cities must have an employable work force. Unfortunetly many large cities dont always have this luxury. The highest percentage of high school graduates in the population in a given city would be fair: given that education is free in to all citizens in this country.
3
Could it be that Mr. Bezos is thinking ahead to exiting Seattle, as its real estate costs have gone through the roof? Just sayin'.
2
No.
Below is planning ahead in case there's an earthquake in Seattle or Trump and North Korea start lobbing nukes at each other.
Below is planning ahead in case there's an earthquake in Seattle or Trump and North Korea start lobbing nukes at each other.
1
Phoenix! With cross-pollination teams with HQ1, that is, Seattle teams could travel to Phoenix in Jan, Feb, and March for projects and Phoenix teams could travel to Seattle in June, July and August. EVERYONE IS HAPPY!
Detroit/Ann Arbor area.
We have an educated populace, NO hurricanes, great weather 9 months out of the year, cheap affordable housing, many outstanding regional universities, the city is just beginning an incredible renaissance--and we are surrounded by clean, fresh water!
Just think of the Universities alone, within a 5 hour drive-dozens of them, including Wayne State, University of Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech (a little further away), Kettering, University of Toledo, Ohio State, Purdue University, Indiana University, Miami of Ohio, University of Cincinnati, University of Chicago, Notre Dame, on and on.
We have an educated populace, NO hurricanes, great weather 9 months out of the year, cheap affordable housing, many outstanding regional universities, the city is just beginning an incredible renaissance--and we are surrounded by clean, fresh water!
Just think of the Universities alone, within a 5 hour drive-dozens of them, including Wayne State, University of Michigan, Michigan State, Michigan Tech (a little further away), Kettering, University of Toledo, Ohio State, Purdue University, Indiana University, Miami of Ohio, University of Cincinnati, University of Chicago, Notre Dame, on and on.
1
I lived in Ann Arbor while in grad school. Your definition of "great weather" is highly suspect. I'd say closer to 2 months of "great" weather, 3 more months of "tolerable" and 7 which are cold and gray. :)
3
here's the thing many people are learning the hard way--nothing is free. Yes, we have actual winter, but we also have lots of clean fresh water and NO hurricanes or earthquakes. Take your pick--winter or endless uncertainty.
1
"... critics, including President Trump, who argue that the company is killing retail jobs by pushing shoppers online and away from department stores and malls."
I am an enthusiastic Amazon customer, but is this really controversial to the point we need to attribute it to "critics"? Isn't this just a fact?
I am an enthusiastic Amazon customer, but is this really controversial to the point we need to attribute it to "critics"? Isn't this just a fact?
1
"It has also been criticized for not being sufficiently involved in the city’s civic life, especially compared to other Seattle-based companies like Boeing, Microsoft and Starbucks."
When did Boeing move its headquarters back to Seattle from Chicago?
When did Boeing move its headquarters back to Seattle from Chicago?
2
No way it's not Austin. Amazon already has a large corporate office here and one of the 3 largest Amazon warehouses is 30 minutes south in San Marcos.
Whole Foods is headquartered here already and the city has one of the largest tech workforces in the world, with a top 5 computer science program to cherry pick talent from at UT.
Whole Foods is headquartered here already and the city has one of the largest tech workforces in the world, with a top 5 computer science program to cherry pick talent from at UT.
1
Midwest is the future. We don't get that crazy weather, or the fires. We have plenty of fresh water. Chicago is a transportation hub, and a world class city.
7
I guess all of Amazon's requirements will leave the great State of New Jersey out. I can see it now Chris Christie groveling before Jeff Bezos trying to sell the merits of NJ as the site for this super development, promising that he will bond the entire cost of the project with the general revenue of New Jersey. One time New Jersey was the epicenter of corporate headquarters, now the best they can do is headquarters of some 5th rate corporation with 100 minimum wage employees. All of this is due to greed and gross ignorance on the part of elected officials of both parties! The more I think about it the more I convince myself that it is time to leave my birthplace.
Stamford, Connecticut. RBS and UBS available to purchase, next to train station. Draw workforce from NY, New Haven and Fairfield region. Diverse communities in addition to environment protection believers.
4
Connecticut is broke. Everyone with any brains is leaving. The Democrats have broken the state. Only state employees who retire with 100K plus pensions and the poor can stay.
Connecticut is a wonderful state, with a highly educated work force, safe towns, and good schools. Bridgeport, Waterbury, and a few other areas need jobs and investment. Must everything be a political discussion? If you don't like Connecticut -- leave.
2
When I first moved to Atlanta 22 years ago, shortly after arriving I attended a local business conference and the speaker (don’t remember who) left me with two thoughts. First, he said that Atlanta was a graveyard for executives, and two, do you know of anyone that retired to New Jersey!
At first I didn’t understand what he meant by executive graveyard. Now I do. I’m a retired executive and will die here. I originally from MA but will never return or than visit. Atlanta metro is 5.7 million, UPS, Coca Cola, and Home Depot are headquartered here. A great place for Amazon.
At first I didn’t understand what he meant by executive graveyard. Now I do. I’m a retired executive and will die here. I originally from MA but will never return or than visit. Atlanta metro is 5.7 million, UPS, Coca Cola, and Home Depot are headquartered here. A great place for Amazon.
2
Another opportunity for Dallas :). Fortune 100 companies like Toyota, Boeing, Liberty Mutual, Fedex Office, JPMorgan Chase have already started relocating, expanding and setting up brand new campuses in the Dallas suburbs.
How many people walk or bike to those suburban campuses? I don't think very many.
Dallas represents next to nothing when you think "Amazon/Silicon Valley."
Dallas represents next to nothing when you think "Amazon/Silicon Valley."
Keep in mind, as you suggest what you believe is the best city or state for Amazon to consider, that they are pro-marriage equality, pro-choice and do not discriminate based on race, gender, gender identity or whether you're LGBTQ.
If your state currently does actively discriminate against any of those, Amazon probably won't choose you. And I applaud that.
If your state currently does actively discriminate against any of those, Amazon probably won't choose you. And I applaud that.
174
Deep red states shouldn't even bother, especially in the Bible Belt.
3
I vote for Chicago. Excellent transportation web, with two major airports. Major first rank Universities -- Northwestern, University of Chicago, Illinois Tech, and many many more. Not on an earthquake fault, not subject to rising seas and hurricanes, not subject to massive wild fires, heat/cold moderated by Lake Michigan. Yes, occasional tornadoes, but not in tornado alley. Yes, Chicago gets snow, but Chicago residents know how to drive in snow.
And finally, not in a deplorable state, but one that sensibly went for Hillary. And Obama twice, And Gore, and Kerry.
And finally, not in a deplorable state, but one that sensibly went for Hillary. And Obama twice, And Gore, and Kerry.
2
Won't be anywhere in New York State thanks to high personal and corporate income taxes, high property taxes, and high sales taxes. But maybe if we all write letters to the Governor and State Legislators, and New York City Mayor and City Council members, they'll fix the problem. One of the sad consequences of decades of tax and tax and spend and spend budgets in Albany and New York City.
Limiting contenders to Metro Areas of over 1 Million is a shame. Why bless the already blessed when this could be the type of investment that turns a city around? In New York State alone, regional hubs like the Capital District, Kingston/Poughkeepsie, or Buffalo could really benefit from something of this scale much more than Brooklyn or any of the other cities with that population. Tech companies show that people will flock pretty much anywhere, and ancillary businesses in service and hospitality can develop. Why waste it?
1
Frequently. a company like Amazon would be offered attractive tax incentives by any state serious about becoming Amazon's new home. That would include Democratic states as well as Republican, even though Democrats argue that reduced taxes don't produce jobs. Hopefully, Democratic spokespeople and the liberal media will concede that there is a vast difference between what such Democrats say and what they do.
1st choice: Pittsburgh. Relatively low cost housing. Rapidly becoming an IT hub given its proximity to the excellent research done at Carnegie Melon University. A beautiful city that embraces diversity.
2nd choice: Detroit. For all of the reasons provided by others. An area with huge potential and an undeserved reputation - as someone who lives in Oakland I can relate to those Detroiters who take offense to the bad rap their city gets.
2nd choice: Detroit. For all of the reasons provided by others. An area with huge potential and an undeserved reputation - as someone who lives in Oakland I can relate to those Detroiters who take offense to the bad rap their city gets.
11
It seems we can't get the toothpaste back in the tube... Amazon may be destroying businesses left and right as folks turn to online shopping, but we really can't go home again. And, for better or worse, behemoths like Amazon are going to have what to many is a profoundly negative impact on the communities where it operates since highly paid employees WILL be driving up the cost of housing, as is happening in the Bay area. So attracting Amazon will definitely be a mixed blessing. Yes, it will generate good paying jobs which every community wants since those folks will shop in stores and dine in restaurants. And, yes, every landlord is excited about the prospect of rising rents. It is people at the margins who will struggle, including the workers in shops who can no longer afford to rent an apartment anywhere near their job. I live in an upscale neighborhood and the number or homeless standing at the corner asking for a handout has grown dramatically over the last few years. I know there are homeless encampments on nearby hills. And yes, there are Teslas, Lamborghinis and Bentleys driving to multi-million dollar homes in the neighborhood. What a remarkable world in which we find ourselves. Thankfully, I'm still living in an affordable cottage I've called home for 27 years. I'm one of the lucky ones... at least so far.
4
Toronto has to be on this short list. Meets all the criteria, plus has a huge, growing, global technical talent base, some of the best Universities in the World churning out highly-sought graduates (virtually all US technical hirers recruit on-campus at Waterloo, U of T, Queens, Western...), a business-and-tech-investment-friendly government at all levels (which may surprise many) -AND technical and professional salaries maybe 40% less than Seattle, the Bay Area or Austin.
6
Reliable sources indicate Washington, DC will be the location for Amazon's second headquarters. When fully implemented, Amazon will supplant all existing/future government activities and eliminate any need for politicians. Amazon will become the sole vendor for all government (services). The very concept of politics, endemic corruption will become irrelevant, as all transactions will become encrypted block chain technology. It is expected other industrialized countries will soon adopt the Amazon service plan. Jeff Bezos will likely assume figurehead world title of emperor. All is well in America..
4
Philadelphia! World class beautiful city, beautiful and affordable housing stock (a nice contrast to Seattle), world class research universities, a huge tech/biotech community.... and -- maybe most critical -- there are 80 acres of mostly empty rail yards being readied for development in the Univerity District just west of Center City. It is quite similar to the warehouse area of South Lake Union that made possible the urban campus in Seattle.
Amazon could build another giant suburban office park almost anywhere, but that is so 20th century. So far Amazon has been smarter than that. The 21st century workforce doesn't want to live in the suburbs and sit in traffic every day. They want to live where they work. Where else is there a World Heritage City with 35 universities and 80 acres of flat land available for development?
Amazon could build another giant suburban office park almost anywhere, but that is so 20th century. So far Amazon has been smarter than that. The 21st century workforce doesn't want to live in the suburbs and sit in traffic every day. They want to live where they work. Where else is there a World Heritage City with 35 universities and 80 acres of flat land available for development?
9
Chicago, hands down. Think Sears Catalog -- the original Internet. The expertise and logistics are still there.
7
Would the two headquarters become rivals?
Anyway, zero chance of coming to Florida. I'm dubious of anywhere in the Southeast (if only Raleigh had a subway and NCSU were in the AAU). Columbus, Minneapolis, and Buffalo have AAU universities.
Anyway, zero chance of coming to Florida. I'm dubious of anywhere in the Southeast (if only Raleigh had a subway and NCSU were in the AAU). Columbus, Minneapolis, and Buffalo have AAU universities.
2
The attributes that would make a city attractive as an Amazon HQ's are the same attributes attractive to the ride sharing company Car2Go. (If you don't know what Car2Go is then you can rest assured that Amazon and its quirky globalist, high-tech, bike to work, $75,000 starting salary crowd won't be moving your way anytime soon.).
Interestingly, the following cities have direct flights to Seattle, big STEM universities nearby and Car2Go:
1. Toronto
2. Austin
3. Brooklyn/Queens
4. Denver
That's probably your short list.
Interestingly, the following cities have direct flights to Seattle, big STEM universities nearby and Car2Go:
1. Toronto
2. Austin
3. Brooklyn/Queens
4. Denver
That's probably your short list.
4
The population requirement narrows the list of eligible cities to about ten. Even their existing site, Seattle, doesn't make the cut by that measure. Maybe reconsider the Crossroads of America and call Indianapolis the new home.
1
Metro area population is their stated requirement, so Seattle, with over 3 million, qualifies. There are 52 other choices in the US, and a few in Canada. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Metropolitan_Statistical_Areas
My bet is that the top candidates are Toronto, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Austin, Atlanta, Dallas, and Boston. Of course I would make a pitch for Detroit and its significant downtown-adjacent land on which to build a new urban campus, amid revival and newfound attractiveness to talent.
My bet is that the top candidates are Toronto, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Austin, Atlanta, Dallas, and Boston. Of course I would make a pitch for Detroit and its significant downtown-adjacent land on which to build a new urban campus, amid revival and newfound attractiveness to talent.
6
No mass transit. No real international airport. No chance.
4
Chicago meets everything Amazon is looking for. Large metro area. Two airports that provide non-stop flights to pretty much everyplace on the continent and multiple destinations around the world. Not only local university presence, but a steady influx of young grads looking for work in a diversified economy. Mass transit, outstanding cultural offerings, all the business support amazon needs from city hall, and room to grow at costs far less than the coasts.
4
Too congested around there, though.
2
Rather than focusing on where to host this behemoth project, pay attention to why it's being planned. Amazon is moving in on small, (and mid-size) business in a big way. In the longer tun, a second headquarters will not compensate for the damage that will be done to independent business owners and their employees.
7
Too bad so sad. I got sick of "mom and pop" stores that are overpriced and customer service is rude. I love Amazon. For example, I was looking for a certain kitchen tool. It would have taken hours if not days finding it locally. Phone calls, trips to the store, etc. With Amazon I find it in seconds and after a couple clicks it's at my door in two days. Long live Amazon!
1
Ditto. And the customer comments are great. And the suggestions based on what I've read, looked at, etc. are great. And Kindle Direct Publishing is THE GREATEST!
Fayetteville, Arkansas has the talent they need.
1
He could put it in DC and employ his soon to be ex Washington Post employees
Columbus, Cleveland or Detroit.
1
Undoubtedly NYC is high on the list.
Great Universities. Highly educated populace. Diversity. Great public transportation, though the subways are in a bit of disrepair...ha. But pretty much any resource you need is here.
The greatest cultural amenities in the world. Central Park. World class museums, art, theater, music, symphony, shopping, pubs & a 4 star restaurant and dozens of 3 stars on nearly every block ... it's literally unending.
Only a few negatives. As indicated, lots of reasons to love NY but taxes aren't one of them. By many measures the city and state has the highest taxes in the country, for individuals and businesses.
Housing is a minor expense....er, make that a major issue. The average 2 bedroom apt in Manhattan rents for $5k per month (half that out in Queens and only $3.5-$4+k in some hip parts of Brooklyn). So if you are happy with bunk beds and sleeping 3-4 per room, no problem splitting the rent. Don't even think of buying a condo or co-op unless you've inherited a good chunk.
Other than a few inconveniences, NYC is the spot for Amazon 2.
Great Universities. Highly educated populace. Diversity. Great public transportation, though the subways are in a bit of disrepair...ha. But pretty much any resource you need is here.
The greatest cultural amenities in the world. Central Park. World class museums, art, theater, music, symphony, shopping, pubs & a 4 star restaurant and dozens of 3 stars on nearly every block ... it's literally unending.
Only a few negatives. As indicated, lots of reasons to love NY but taxes aren't one of them. By many measures the city and state has the highest taxes in the country, for individuals and businesses.
Housing is a minor expense....er, make that a major issue. The average 2 bedroom apt in Manhattan rents for $5k per month (half that out in Queens and only $3.5-$4+k in some hip parts of Brooklyn). So if you are happy with bunk beds and sleeping 3-4 per room, no problem splitting the rent. Don't even think of buying a condo or co-op unless you've inherited a good chunk.
Other than a few inconveniences, NYC is the spot for Amazon 2.
3
An awful lot of wishful thinking in these comments.
First, Comrade Bezos will set up headquarters in a blue state. Texas has no change. Ditto Missouri. And Kansas (you're kidding).
Second. HQ2 will not be located in an economic basket case of a city. Eliminate Chicago and Detroit.
Third. Would you want to be a business saddled with paying off legacy unfunded public worker pensions/OPEB? Eliminate Philadelphia.
Fourth. Despite Bezos' liberal leanings, he'll want a business friendly state. Bye bye California and New York.
This leaves a handful of cities that have a change. Boston, Denver. Phoenix, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Columbus (purple states have a chance).
And of course, a doubling down in Seattle.
First, Comrade Bezos will set up headquarters in a blue state. Texas has no change. Ditto Missouri. And Kansas (you're kidding).
Second. HQ2 will not be located in an economic basket case of a city. Eliminate Chicago and Detroit.
Third. Would you want to be a business saddled with paying off legacy unfunded public worker pensions/OPEB? Eliminate Philadelphia.
Fourth. Despite Bezos' liberal leanings, he'll want a business friendly state. Bye bye California and New York.
This leaves a handful of cities that have a change. Boston, Denver. Phoenix, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Columbus (purple states have a chance).
And of course, a doubling down in Seattle.
2
But Detroit isn't "Detroit." The extremely large metro area is not governed by the circus of the Detroit City Council.
Think Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Farmington, Novi. Within a stone's throw of these areas and the major international airport are vast tracts of available land, a decent freeway system, tons of blue- and white-collar workers eager for a new challenge, a business-friendly governor, a deep pool of F500 executives, and so on.
Think Ann Arbor, Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, Farmington, Novi. Within a stone's throw of these areas and the major international airport are vast tracts of available land, a decent freeway system, tons of blue- and white-collar workers eager for a new challenge, a business-friendly governor, a deep pool of F500 executives, and so on.
1
California is quite business friendly if you look at the number of large profitable companies headquartered here and the number of large startups. Apple, Google and Facebook (No. 1, 2 and 4 in terms of market cap of publicly traded companies in the world) are all based there. They are also extremely profitable and have the kinds of jobs most cities and states want. Uber, Lyft, Airbnb all large startups with multi-billion dollar valuations are also located there. In fact, the number one place to locate a new startup is California.
Boston is it...
Thank you Jeff Bezos. We need people like you and Elon Mosk.
1
Pick Austin! Pick Austin!
1
Cincinnati, the Queen City of the West!
1
Yes!!! Or Dayton, my hometown.
1
I sure hope they don't come to Denver!
3
You want to attract and retain young talent? Go to a cannabis friendly state like Colorado (Denver) or Massachusetts (Boston).
And when you make your selection, point out to Florida, Texas, etc. that you thought conservatives were in favor of keeping their noses out of the private lives of their citizens.
And when you make your selection, point out to Florida, Texas, etc. that you thought conservatives were in favor of keeping their noses out of the private lives of their citizens.
3
I don't think stoners are people he wants to hire...
1
Jeff, expand your presence in Arizona! Please, please, please help turn us blue!
2
This is not about social engineering. This is about business.
1
Has the Don taken credit for this yet?
3
Monmouth County, NJ
Put it in Trump tower!
1
Come to the Lehigh Valley in Northeast PA.
90 minutes to NY or Philly, convenient transportation, lots of engineering and technical schools. Easy to attract people who want to be in the suburbs, but close to New York, with much lower taxes.
90 minutes to NY or Philly, convenient transportation, lots of engineering and technical schools. Easy to attract people who want to be in the suburbs, but close to New York, with much lower taxes.
2
Philadelphia Navy Yard! Easy access to highways and large airport, and a great opportunity to develop a large campus while in a major city.
4
Crazy idea. 50,000 people is too much for any one place. Spread the wealth and the opportunities. Given weather pattern changes, traffic and transit issues everywhere --and other vulnerabilites-- it's probably best not to be too concentrated in one place. And no govt entity should even consider tax credits unless Amazon commits to stay 25 years-- based on the recent GE/Boston experirence.
2
Think techie, managerial and administrative jobs not warehouse jobs. Their requirements include being close to transit, major universities, and a major urban center with an intl airport. Unsaid is they want to be where the talent pool will want to live. The SF Bay Area would be a choice but there are too many other competitors for the same talent. Boston is ideal - no other city has that many universities. Boston used to have a lot of high tech companies but not anymore so it might be easier to hire. I assume another consideration is that they have a backup HQ if the big one hit Seattle.
NY city might be a possibility , some Canadian Cities ( e.g. Toronto ), Raleigh , NC - maybe not transit friendly enough -, LA - the same earthquake won't hit both Seattle and LA
Texas cities don't have good transit, same goes for Pittsburgh ( also only has CMU).
NY city might be a possibility , some Canadian Cities ( e.g. Toronto ), Raleigh , NC - maybe not transit friendly enough -, LA - the same earthquake won't hit both Seattle and LA
Texas cities don't have good transit, same goes for Pittsburgh ( also only has CMU).
5
I think Denver is an easy choice, if it has the stomach for the gentrification.
There is a site south of LoDo that is mostly parking lots that sit mostly empty. It serves a Six Flags, the Pepsi Center, and the Auraria Campus but none of those ever fill it. It's across Cherry Creek from a ton of new investment that could be moved into in a few months and the empty land is owned mostly by one person (Kronke).
Long term potential and immediate move in potential, tons of amenity, tech talent, transit, and draw for potential employees. Plus the weather. Seattle has 300 cloudy days; Denver 300 sunny.
There is a site south of LoDo that is mostly parking lots that sit mostly empty. It serves a Six Flags, the Pepsi Center, and the Auraria Campus but none of those ever fill it. It's across Cherry Creek from a ton of new investment that could be moved into in a few months and the empty land is owned mostly by one person (Kronke).
Long term potential and immediate move in potential, tons of amenity, tech talent, transit, and draw for potential employees. Plus the weather. Seattle has 300 cloudy days; Denver 300 sunny.
3
NJ or Philly. Massive transportation hubs with direct access to trucking, rail, air and major ocean ports. But would Amazon have gas over being in the same city as Comcast?
1
Downtown Brooklyn!
With a population of over 2 million, Brooklyn is one of the largest cities in America, but the 2004 rezoning (which was supposed to spur the creation of a new business district) has yet to produce much of anything in terms of office space.
The majority of millennials in the NYC tech scene live in Brooklyn already, but start-ups are still resisting making the jump across the East River. This kind of development would be the kind of game-changer the borough needs to change all of that, which makes Brooklyn uniquely situated to offer more than most cities in terms of subsidies.
The massive development sites near the Barclays Center and the great transportation access that comes with it (PC Richards, Atlantic Terminal Mall, etc.) would be perfect.
Given the stress on the subway system of trying to move the entire city's workforce into and out of Manhattan everyday, a shift in some of that office demand to Brooklyn benefits the entire region--all of NY should be behind this!
(Second choice would be the BK Navy Yard, by the way).
With a population of over 2 million, Brooklyn is one of the largest cities in America, but the 2004 rezoning (which was supposed to spur the creation of a new business district) has yet to produce much of anything in terms of office space.
The majority of millennials in the NYC tech scene live in Brooklyn already, but start-ups are still resisting making the jump across the East River. This kind of development would be the kind of game-changer the borough needs to change all of that, which makes Brooklyn uniquely situated to offer more than most cities in terms of subsidies.
The massive development sites near the Barclays Center and the great transportation access that comes with it (PC Richards, Atlantic Terminal Mall, etc.) would be perfect.
Given the stress on the subway system of trying to move the entire city's workforce into and out of Manhattan everyday, a shift in some of that office demand to Brooklyn benefits the entire region--all of NY should be behind this!
(Second choice would be the BK Navy Yard, by the way).
20
I'm with you in spirit, but I'm afraid DT BK doesn't have a development site of the magnitude Amazon is looking for. All the bigger sites around downtown are already spoken for and so is the Navy Yard. If you consider their Seattle campus, they are not looking to take over just a full block or two - they want to build their own neighborhood that employees will rarely even have to leave.
However, phase 2 of Hudson Yards could be perfect for Amazon and give a giant boost to development on the west side. They'd just have to adjust the mix of commercial to residential. Either that or a platform over Sunnyside yards. One can dream!
However, phase 2 of Hudson Yards could be perfect for Amazon and give a giant boost to development on the west side. They'd just have to adjust the mix of commercial to residential. Either that or a platform over Sunnyside yards. One can dream!
1
Isn't housing already expensive enough in Brooklyn (and New York CIty)? Can you imagine how real estate prices would explode with 50,000 new jobs in the tech industry?
1
They need more space than brooklyn.
1
Between AWS presence and Bezos owning the Post I think they'll end up here in NoVA, most likely Crystal City - a relatively low-reg / low-tax / anti-union state with a large population of techies and local government doing all it can to promote tech startups and Millennial-friendly urban redevelopment with walkable airport access.
1
What difference does the fact that Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post make? None. Zero. Zip.
I hope for the sake of our housing crisis that they stay far, far away from Southern California.
4
Don't worry. High taxes, toxic business regulations and liberal policies will keep big employers far far away from your precious LA. No national level business in their right mind would want to setup shop in the liberal stink hole of Los Angeles or California for that matter. In fact many are leaving this state.
But hey. At least we're saving the environment and stuff.
But hey. At least we're saving the environment and stuff.
While imagining all of the benefits of an Amazon headquarters, cities seeking to be the latest favored hub need to keep in mind the negatives. Seattle and San Francisco are both experiencing housing and homeless crisis, among other things. Trickle-down social benefits usually work as well as trickle down economics. Segments of society have to lose big in order for tech goliaths to win big. Good luck to all applying.
9
95% of american cities would be head over heels to have San Francisco and Seattle's problems.
For sure this is a great opportunity to elevate any area of the country that has been depressed since the 2008 recession - and to retrain workers for 21st century jobs. Think West Virginia, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas etc.
1
Who would want to live in any of those states? Why would you build a business in a depressed area of the country. This is about business.
4
And business is about people. Imagine the good Amazon, a wealthy, powerful company, could do for people where economic opportunity is sorely needed - and imagine how productive that workforce could be in return. Sounds like a potential win-win to me.
It won't be in Connecticut. Nice in places but nobody wants to move here. Costs too much and short summers/cold winters. I could see them going to South Carolina near Charlotte, NC. Low taxes, anything goes for business government, lots of eager educated worker drones.
As long s you re not gay or transgender.
1
Lots of people like cold winters.
Irvine - it is.
Denver. It's the best.
1
After GE, Boston welcomes Amazon!
2
No we don't! Do you really think our housing stock, roads and mass transit can absorb another 50,000 people - and their families? Housing is already way too expensive and in short supply. The T is already too crowded. And it's already too hard and too pricey to get tickets to Fenway! Do I really want to fight 50,000 more well-paid people for these and other amenities of our great city? No thanks!
1
My vote: Canada.
4
old Rockland Psychiatric property in Orangburg, NY and/or former Lederle property in Pearl River, NY
Note to editor: Seattle is home to most Boeing employees but the company is actually based/headquartered in Chicago.
1
Dollars to donuts the new "HQ" goes to still another Whitopia like Seattle.
You know, filled with smug sophisticates who enjoy their affluent surroundings and the great schools for their kids, and don't seem to mind at all that the Other is miles and miles away. It's such a puzzlement!
Because it isn't progressive if it isn't hypocritical.
You know, filled with smug sophisticates who enjoy their affluent surroundings and the great schools for their kids, and don't seem to mind at all that the Other is miles and miles away. It's such a puzzlement!
Because it isn't progressive if it isn't hypocritical.
2
I get what you're saying. But many black people like myself enjoy elements of the Whitopia. It's just that many of us are shut out from it.
1
Not Austin.
5
Detroit would be a very obvious choice to me. Lots of available land, close by universities, and I bet they'd be amenable to tax breaks.
6
Lots of house lots available to build on with roads, water, sewer, power and ready for building affordable single or two family houses for workers with short commutes.
1
There are ten states with the highest per capita GDP, meaning the most productive workforces: Alaska, New York, Connecticut, North Dakota, Delaware, Massachusetts, Wyoming, New Jersey, Washington and California.
Alaska, North Dakota, and Wyoming are too remote. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and California have taxes that are too high and housing that is too expensive.
That leaves Washington, where Amazon already has a headquarters, or Delaware. Delaware is a good location, with fairly low taxes, and very favorable corporate rules and regulations. It's close to D.C. and NYC and could easily draw talented people from NJ who want to get away from the insane property taxes.
As much as I'd like to see it come to the SF Bay Area, Delaware would be the ideal choice.
Alaska, North Dakota, and Wyoming are too remote. New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and California have taxes that are too high and housing that is too expensive.
That leaves Washington, where Amazon already has a headquarters, or Delaware. Delaware is a good location, with fairly low taxes, and very favorable corporate rules and regulations. It's close to D.C. and NYC and could easily draw talented people from NJ who want to get away from the insane property taxes.
As much as I'd like to see it come to the SF Bay Area, Delaware would be the ideal choice.
2
A few of the high GDP per capita states - Alaska, North Dakota and Wyoming - are on the list due to their extractive industries, not their productive workforces. But that's probably a moot point anyway, since they are not attractive locations for other reasons. I'm sure the Amazon analysis will be complex and will certainly include tax issues for both the company and its employees, but huge incentives will also be an issue, as the article discusses. But I think another factor will be the attractiveness of the cities to the senior level of the company, based on their own criteria, as well as their assessment of what makes a city attractive to their middle and lower level staff. We will see how it all shakes out.
2
"I'd like to see it come to the SF Bay Area" Your housing crisis isn't bad enough?
Let's hope it is somewhere back east...
Let's hope it is somewhere back east...
1
They're looking for a city, not a state, and one with a population over a million.
It will be Chicago. Large tech community, major metro area with great suburbs. Easy access to west and east coast. The only think that is difficult - winters! Rahm has already called Jeff.
3
Jeff is already designing a giant heater to warm Chicago in the winter...
1
I think Bezos should and will pay attention to climate issues since understands and cares about global climate change.
Coastal areas are a big problem with the expected rise in sea levels. Considering hurricanes--Harvey and Houston, Katrina and New Orleans, I think the gulf area from Texas to Florida would be undesirable. Austin could get hit by a hurricane, too. The south is hot and getting hotter with climate change, so the cost of air conditioning would be an increasing expense. California has earthquakes and the big cities are coastal, so that's a problem. The Midwest is central, inland, and is warming up to, so the winters are not as cold as they used to be, on average. That gives Amazon multiple options in the Midwest in terms of metro areas that are large enough and don't face major climate drawbacks.
Coastal areas are a big problem with the expected rise in sea levels. Considering hurricanes--Harvey and Houston, Katrina and New Orleans, I think the gulf area from Texas to Florida would be undesirable. Austin could get hit by a hurricane, too. The south is hot and getting hotter with climate change, so the cost of air conditioning would be an increasing expense. California has earthquakes and the big cities are coastal, so that's a problem. The Midwest is central, inland, and is warming up to, so the winters are not as cold as they used to be, on average. That gives Amazon multiple options in the Midwest in terms of metro areas that are large enough and don't face major climate drawbacks.
60
Austin will never be hit by hurricane.
1
Austin is safe from hurricanes due to it being a some altitude (425-1000 ft) and more inland.
1
And an increasing number of man-made earthquakes in the OK area!
1
Hopefully, no city and state will give such tax breaks as to further shift the tax burden away from corporations to the residents. While there are many excellent choices, what about Detroit? Detroit is relatively inexpensive, close to Ann Arbor, ith its fine University and close to other major cities in the Eastern US, Chicago, NY, Washington, Philadelphia and Cincinnati, among others. Build it an people will come.
18
Look at coal towns, they are unlikely to get jobs in coal
2
I think you are mistaken. Trump promised coal is coming back. And also, Ohio isn't a good choice since all those factories are starting back up, right?
No doubt there are lots of good places, but 50,000 jobs is a lot, even for a big city to absorb in, and I would suggest/hope that they decide to make a stake in a city with ample housing stock and overbuildt infrastructure (i.e. Kansas City, Detroit, St. Louis, etc) over a city that is already being squeezed with increasing housing costs and congestion (coastal cities, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Chicago, etc). At any rate, I am sure the corporate welfare the winning city spits out will make me nauseous and lets face it, will be so much that Amazon itself will end up paying nothing towards the infrastructure needed to support 50K workers and their families.
3
as a stockholder in Amazon I am truly disappointed at your anti- Capitalist bias.
Buffalo has overbuilt infrastructure and a plethora of vacant homes.
I think they will put the unit in the South where the cost of living and labor is cheaper. They may put it here in Las Vegas which is only a two plane ride from Seattle. Cost of living is less and there are minimal corporate taxes here. It would be nice to see it in New York City but due to the anti business attitude of the area it is highly unlikely.
1
A second headquarters won't do much. The company has destroyed retail stores in thousands of communities. What does it offer in return? Not much. An entire state may not have a single distribution center. Mine doesn't. Even local delivery jobs will go away if Bezos manages to make drone delivery work. Creating a second, outsized headquarters in a single major city isn't going to correct that. Announcing something that shallow suggests how out-of-touch Amazon is.
Jeff Bezos may soon acquire the distinction once held by John Rockefeller. He may find himself "the most hated man in America."
Jeff Bezos may soon acquire the distinction once held by John Rockefeller. He may find himself "the most hated man in America."
8
don't worry, states will bend over backwards to give Bezos those huge tax subsidies (unlike state's past subsidies to Rockefeller).
I think the millions upon millions of Amazon customers would respectfully disagree with you.
It took years for Amazon to become a paying proposition but it was based upon a very simple strategy, low overhead, low administrative costs, free flow of cash from not having to tie it up in brick and mortar facilities with millions of dollars in merchandise on shelves losing value until sold. The money spent by customers on goods had a very direct impact upon where the firm's cash was spent. A very efficient model for retail that gave it a very high likelihood for success. Now the company has gone into a business quite unlike it's successful model, the retail grocery and mass marketed goods supermarket, which hopefully it will not try to operate like an online enterprise but it might. And it's decided to get into real estate, burying it's profits in a massive administrative facility, which will hang a lot of overhead on the whole enterprise. It's getting into business areas which it's successful model avoided to great advantage. It makes one wonder whether the corporate leadership are wily or just smitten with hubris.
If you read the RFP, it pretty much has to a big city in a blue state that has high-quality transit, which means trains. That rules out the entire Southwest and South and leaves only a tiny handful of cities: Denver, Minneapolis, Chicago, New York City, Boston and the most interesting dark horse, Baltimore. It doesn't make sense to choose another West Coast city even though most of them fit the bill. https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/Anything/test/images...
9
Yep. Amazing how many people have commented without knowing the actual guidelines Amazon has already put out there.
Cleveland would be an interesting dark horse. Seems almost nobody realizes Cleveland actually has a subway. Ohio isn't as reliably blue as some places, but it's not Dixie, either.
Can't beat Boston. Great talent pool, universities, possibility of downtown location, winning sports teams, etc.
4
Denver beats Boston.
Charlotte, NC! Great business climate, easy to attract young people because of good quality of life, affordable cost of living. And I'm sure they will be given lots of financial incentives
1
that state's poor quality labor force combined with an anti-abortion and anti-homosexual set of laws will not do much to attract the young.
9
Since Seattle is on the West Coast, a dual HQ would imply a very large, attractive metro area on or near the East Coast with the infrastructure to support such a large educated workforce. So it will be either Boston, New York, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Miami or Jacksonville or DC (both doubtful). My hunch is Philadelphia, with easy access to DC & NY & also not far from a second huge airport, Newark/Liberty; or NYC, for obvious reasons.
4
Jacksonville doesn't have mass transit, and doesn't have an airport with international flights except Canada and the Caribbean.
Come to Los Angeles!
1. Lots of new metro lines under construction;
2. Probably the largest tech workforce outside of SV and Seattle;
3. Numerous leading universities and institutions (Cal Tech, UCLA, USC, Pomona, Harvey Mudd, and Cal State);
Now the city and state need to get it together and offer some incentives!!
1. Lots of new metro lines under construction;
2. Probably the largest tech workforce outside of SV and Seattle;
3. Numerous leading universities and institutions (Cal Tech, UCLA, USC, Pomona, Harvey Mudd, and Cal State);
Now the city and state need to get it together and offer some incentives!!
1
High cost of living, high taxes, also on West Coast. I think Amazon will want to diversify geographically
1
Bentonville, AR is the logical choice. That way manufacturers who are "racing to the bottom" can kill 2 birds with 1 stone.
11
Dear Amazon:
Please, anywhere but Northern Virginia. We don't need more suburban sprawl, more demand for (obscenely overpriced) housing, and more horrendous traffic congestion.
Spread the wealth. Go to Detroit.
Please, anywhere but Northern Virginia. We don't need more suburban sprawl, more demand for (obscenely overpriced) housing, and more horrendous traffic congestion.
Spread the wealth. Go to Detroit.
21
A logical choice would be the Dallas metro area!
Reading these comments is interesting. It amazes me much of a cult following certain companies like Amazon - Apple - Tesla have. Had this company been a non cult status company - people would parse through the words in the article and correctly note that the "call for proposals" is to see who will offer the best corporate welfare package. So Amazon wants to hire a lot? And how many more jobs and companies did they destroy..?? They just announced a new NYC distribution center - of course with the requisite tax breaks. They claim they will employ 2k there. Yeah? For how long before they need to "cut costs" - aka "automate"? And they need the corporate welfare because their profit comes mainly from web hosting. Their retail is more focused (like Wal Mart in the brick and mortar world) on killing off competitors with low prices until they are the only game in town. But I guess since Bezos is an ultra liberal it's all good. Yeah I wouldn't mind if they put their headquarters in NY and add employees who will pay taxes... But this comment section just amazes me how our standard of scrutiny is skewed.
10
as a stockholder in amazon I am truly discouraged by your anti-Amazon comments.
The last time I read an anti-Amazon rant, it was by an author and a publisher who sold their products ON AMAZON
2
... and let the downward spiral of tax giveaways and state and municipal 'incentives' begin....Corporations are 'people' that don't pay taxes. The biggest ones make money in their tax departments. I use Amazon, but companies like them and GE have to contribute to the countries that vaulted them to success. We need more patriots in the boardroom (and the White House, but that's another story...).
6
Leading Candidate: Toronto
- Large metropolitan area with large high density urban centre
- Close proximity to great universities (U of Waterloo, U of T, Queens) including world renown machine learning centres
- Robust existing Technology and Retail sectors to draw local talent
- Rich immigration policy with focus on educated immigrants from around the world, including tech
- Large metropolitan area with large high density urban centre
- Close proximity to great universities (U of Waterloo, U of T, Queens) including world renown machine learning centres
- Robust existing Technology and Retail sectors to draw local talent
- Rich immigration policy with focus on educated immigrants from around the world, including tech
70
Great idea! Do you think Toronto is ready to annex itself to the US?
2
Don't get me wrong – I love Toronto and it's my favorite city in North America, but isn't it a lot more expensive to operate a business in Canada than in the US? As well as having to deal with customs when most of your stuff is going over the border? Buffalo NY is pretty close to Toronto, though… plenty of Canadians could be crossing the border for work each day…
1
Agreed, but any locale outside the US won't work, unless Bezos is ready to further inflame our Maniac-on-Chief. And Toronto, at least when I last visited, was more expensive to live than NYC and SF.
Basically, this new HQ will not be built anywhere in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic becasue of stiffling taxes and the labor unions (You can add Illinois to that list also). Red States win again!
Adam Smith: Undefeated sonce 1776!!!
Adam Smith: Undefeated sonce 1776!!!
1
These are all $75k and up white collar jobs.
No one in that salary category is union anywhere in the US.
No one in that salary category is union anywhere in the US.
2
Basically, this new HQ will not be built anywhere in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic becasue of stiffling taxes and the labor unions
where, again, is Amazon based? Is that city and state a tax haven? Anti-union?
where, again, is Amazon based? Is that city and state a tax haven? Anti-union?
You are completely incorrect. Its very common to make 75k or more, while being in a union. I should know, because am in a union and I do.
Great, we already have too many amazonians here in Seattle raising the cost of living. Amazon is like Lord of the Flies meets the Baldrige Continuous Improvement System. Bezos will steamroll over some other unsuspecting community
7
Denver Colorado. Denver hits all the right buttons. It will be Denver.
1
Baltimore! We have a deep water port, central location, lots of infrastructure and extremely affordable real estate. Go Charm City!
35
Baltimore LOL
Agreed, Baltimore makes sense for those reasons, along with proximity to the Swamp in DC!
Amazon presently pays it's Flex contract workers $18 / hour plus tips, and it's been my experience that around a third of customers tip, so the total hourly take (again, in my experience) averages around $22 / hour.
What is Flex, you ask?
It's the name Amazon gives it's program to deploy independent contractors to deliver Prime packages either within one hour, or in a selected 2-hour window. Flex contract workers also deliver restaurant orders, as Prime customers get free delivery from restaurants that are part of the Amazon Restaurants network. I don't have the number of Flex workers, but it's public information that this program operates in many cities. (I'd say 10,000 is a good estimate.)
These are jobs - economically if not legally - and my point here is to gently suggest that the very good article we're commenting on underplays the number of individuals effectively working for Amazon.
The number of individuals effectively working for Amazon is additionally increased by the employees of what I shall call "captured" messenger companies. These individuals get their paychecks from XYZ messenger firm, but they are stationed inside Amazon facilities along side Flex workers, and make their living delivering Amazon packages (I'm looking at them right now).
What is Flex, you ask?
It's the name Amazon gives it's program to deploy independent contractors to deliver Prime packages either within one hour, or in a selected 2-hour window. Flex contract workers also deliver restaurant orders, as Prime customers get free delivery from restaurants that are part of the Amazon Restaurants network. I don't have the number of Flex workers, but it's public information that this program operates in many cities. (I'd say 10,000 is a good estimate.)
These are jobs - economically if not legally - and my point here is to gently suggest that the very good article we're commenting on underplays the number of individuals effectively working for Amazon.
The number of individuals effectively working for Amazon is additionally increased by the employees of what I shall call "captured" messenger companies. These individuals get their paychecks from XYZ messenger firm, but they are stationed inside Amazon facilities along side Flex workers, and make their living delivering Amazon packages (I'm looking at them right now).
3
If these "Flex" workers are "independent" contractors they are filing under IRS 1099. They (usually) and Amazon are not paying payroll taxes which support our social safety net such as Unemployment Insurance, Social Security, Medicare, etc. So that $22 an hour is not all it is cracked up to be for the gig economy workers. It's a form of worker exploitation.
Denver and Pittsburgh are great candidates.
I think that the people who think about Charlotte, Atlanta, Houston, DFW are all mistakenly thinking that Amazon is a company that was built by overweight middle aged Republican business school graduates like some of the other companies based in those areas: people looking for a McMansion on a large lot in a cheap suburb with a country club to join.
Amazon and other tech companies were built by young, diverse, global-minded, innovative, tech-oriented people who came from engineering schools and comp science departments. These are people are progressive in thought and values. They value experiences, hobbies, urban living with easy access to public transportation and urban amenities, and outdoor activities more than they do fancy cars to sit in traffic on their way to suburban homes in gated neighborhoods.
Pittsburgh: deep talent pool with excellent universities, cheap cost of living, urban renaissance that has been attracting young, progressive, talented people for years with an established reputation for high quality of life.
Denver: massive airport with train to urban center, regional and city rail that was built with foresight for growth, government that balances business friendly policies with smart growth that considers quality of life. Denver doesn't have Carnegie Mellon but its high quality of life has been attracting highly educated young progressive professionals for years.
I think that the people who think about Charlotte, Atlanta, Houston, DFW are all mistakenly thinking that Amazon is a company that was built by overweight middle aged Republican business school graduates like some of the other companies based in those areas: people looking for a McMansion on a large lot in a cheap suburb with a country club to join.
Amazon and other tech companies were built by young, diverse, global-minded, innovative, tech-oriented people who came from engineering schools and comp science departments. These are people are progressive in thought and values. They value experiences, hobbies, urban living with easy access to public transportation and urban amenities, and outdoor activities more than they do fancy cars to sit in traffic on their way to suburban homes in gated neighborhoods.
Pittsburgh: deep talent pool with excellent universities, cheap cost of living, urban renaissance that has been attracting young, progressive, talented people for years with an established reputation for high quality of life.
Denver: massive airport with train to urban center, regional and city rail that was built with foresight for growth, government that balances business friendly policies with smart growth that considers quality of life. Denver doesn't have Carnegie Mellon but its high quality of life has been attracting highly educated young progressive professionals for years.
23
Amazon needs to describe the work at HQ2. Goods and services or mostly corporate offices. We assume goods, shipping. But is that really what HQ1 is doing? White collar, blue collar, what is the mix? I basically agree with Zach. Find a location with multiple universities as well as k-12 - good school selections for their kids. Schools that teach science, technologies, STEM programs.
There seem to be only a few logical choices (they won't do West Coast as it would be duplicative and too expensive), here is a rough guess:
Denver
Chicago
Atlanta
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
Kansas City
Minneapolis
I think some states may be out due to politics, like Texas (Dallas and Austin) and North Carolina (Charlotte). The New England (Hartford) and Mid-Atlantic areas (Baltimore) are probably too crowded and they won't offer enough incentives. Florida (Orlando) is a possibility, but may be out due to climate change and politics.
Will be interesting to see how it pans out, whether it is a race to the bottom, or based on objective criteria.
Denver
Chicago
Atlanta
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
St. Louis
Kansas City
Minneapolis
I think some states may be out due to politics, like Texas (Dallas and Austin) and North Carolina (Charlotte). The New England (Hartford) and Mid-Atlantic areas (Baltimore) are probably too crowded and they won't offer enough incentives. Florida (Orlando) is a possibility, but may be out due to climate change and politics.
Will be interesting to see how it pans out, whether it is a race to the bottom, or based on objective criteria.
3
Atlanta is the best choice of all those you listed above. St. Louis and Kansas City have major racial issues, and the others are in snow-prone areas. Atlanta has the most temperate weather, an educated workforce, a relatively low cost of living, and developed transportation infrastructure (one of the busiest airports in the world, highways not too far from the ports of Savannah and Jacksonville, etc.).
4
Snow-prone areas? How much snow do you think these cities get? Unlike most US cities, neither Minneapolis nor St. Paul shut down due to a few inches of snow. I moved to the Twin Cities area from the SW and was amazed at how fast snow is removed from freeways / highways. Also, the snow removal operations at MSP International is so efficient that the airport is closed less than two hours a year, on average, due to weather.
6
Actually Dallas and Austin are liberal. They are both sanctuary cities. We have a large supply of tech workers. Good universities. Inexpensive housing (~$100/sq. foot). No state income tax. Workers could afford to come here unlike Seattle.
2
Houston, Texas would be ideal. It has an international airport, city has a very diversified workforce, cultural districts, major sports teams, stadiums, museum districts, MD Anderson Cancer Center, which is the worlds largest cancer treatment hospital, large Med center, near Galveston Beach, many major companies, Exxon, Schlumberger, United Airlines, Shell Oil, National Oilwell Varco, Chevron, JPMorgan Chase, Baker Hughes, several universities, Rice University, University of Houston, Texas Southern University, Houston Community College, University of Incarnate Ward, it has various attractions like NASA, Zoo, no state taxes, low cost of living. Houston!
1
Taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society. The lack of intelligent city planning in Houston has become quite evident.
12
Flooding! Susceptibility to climate change! State politics that alienate it's employees!
1
Have you been living under a rock for the past week? Houston is a disaster zone that is predisposed to other future disasters.
For Amazon location, I think transportation efficiency should be a critical factor. The movement of people, goods and services determines cost of overhead to any corporation, its employees and more so if the company has a high level of freight movement.
2
What Amazon really is looking for: major tax breaks and low wage states.
123
Very low wage rates and huge corporate inducements (grants) will be the deal breaker.
Did you even read the article? The jobs they're planning to bring in will average over $100k/year. Software engineers and senior managers are a completely different market than "low wage" workers. Tax breaks will be relevant, but not more important than certain of the other requirements.
@G: "West Virginia, thus ending the craziness over coal once and for all."
Huh? You think middle-aged coal miners can just easily start working as computer programmers or managers at an internet company?
Huh? You think middle-aged coal miners can just easily start working as computer programmers or managers at an internet company?
4
No, but perhaps their children and their grandchildren can.
A lot of people here are misunderstanding what "talent" means to Amazon. These are HQ jobs, not warehouse jobs. They are white collar, highly paid jobs that are filled by people from top tier universities. Amazon hires and recruits from the top schools in the country - Ivy League, Public Ivy, top engineering (think Ga Tech, Carnegie Mellon), etc. Being near a school like University of Buffalo is of no interest to them. Pittsburgh makes some sense due to CMU, but cities like Cleveland have no universities that Amazon would have much interest in.
18
Really? Ever hear of Oberlin, Case Western Reserve University and others in that location?
1
What? How are you saying being near UB isn't important but recruiting from universities is? How did these universities become prestigious? Because of the companies that surround them.
Classic New York mentality.
Sounds like many folks are rooting for their hometowns. But until we learn how to do tech jobs and affordable housing simultaneously, is inviting Amazon really the best deal for most? And I'm not even talking about affordability for the truly low-income. I'm talking housing and cost of living affordability for teachers, marketing reps, healthcare professionals, and other middle class professionals.
5
They will go where they get the most incentives from the local and state government. A metro of one million leaves A LOT of options. Whoever ponies up will most likely get it. Most companies have only a handful of cities they consider. So he's either lying or they really are seeing who will play "race to the bottom"
1
Yes, I can agree with you on that. I work in tech (not Amazon) and make 6 figures - can't really buy a house anywhere near by. Maybe a condo on the far edges of town. It's not good.
Austin Texas would be a great choice. We have the technology talent, pro-business local government and great quality of life. We are already Apple's 2nd largest hub outside Cupertino.
3
Texas has a political problem. Austin may be a progressive city, but this is one of the most conservative states in the nation. The laws are too draconian for the type of people that Amazon seeks to attract for a second headquarters.
4
Austin is great. I lived there for 25 years. But what about the traffic?
1
Really John, we have 8000 Apple employees, 2000 Oracle and major expansions from Google and Facebook to name a few. Don't think we have a problem attracting this type of tech talent in Austin
I would think that if they are serious about getting into the food business then they should be looking towards the midwest or Texas. I personally think a place like Kansas City would do well as there is a decent mix of tech and agriculture, but Texas is closer to the Mexican produce growers.
13
KC would be ideal, imo. Great workforce and centrally located.
Locations that are easily able to "attract and retain workers" are pretty much all locations that don't need a big boost to the local economy - while the places that could really use a shot in the arm are stuck in a cycle of no one wanting to move there to work and raise a family. That is, no one except immigrants who are often pleased as punch to settle in rural, less vibrant places, where they are often among the few doctors, motel operators, and non-chain restaurant owners. But many of those same places have loudly signaled they don't want the immigrants - or gays, or liberals, or anyone else who doesn't immediately look, act, and talk like the people already there. And there we Americans are. Stuck.
17
Said North America. Moving to Canada? Way more supportive environment. No problem with hiring people on visas. Far less uncertainty. Strong economy.
5
The jockeying has already started. This news is about a year late. Interested states should have outlined a Request for Proposal already. The details are built on timing but you're behind the game if you don't have a framework in place. Amazon is certainly no charity organization. I don't hear much from Amazon about the stated aims for such an expansion though. Harder to pitch a deal when you don't know what the customer wants. Sounds like Amazon is trying to create a bidding war. That's bad for everyone. Well, everyone except Amazon maybe.
I'd guess the facility will land somewhere east of the Mississippi. Seattle can take over the expansion into the intermountain West. The new facility can handle the existing infrastructure in the Midwest and the Eastern Corridor. Unless Amazon is planning to close the Seattle office sometime in the near future, a regional split is the most logical choice. I wonder if Amazon is biting off more than they can chew though.
Dual responsibilities seems like a great idea on paper. The reality is much different. The execution is hard and the system is even harder to maintain. You're basically talking about a massive dragon that now has two heads. Again, it depends on the company's goals. However, to any prospective state governments: be careful what you wish for. You might not find the new arrangement quite as pleasing as the advertisement.
I'd guess the facility will land somewhere east of the Mississippi. Seattle can take over the expansion into the intermountain West. The new facility can handle the existing infrastructure in the Midwest and the Eastern Corridor. Unless Amazon is planning to close the Seattle office sometime in the near future, a regional split is the most logical choice. I wonder if Amazon is biting off more than they can chew though.
Dual responsibilities seems like a great idea on paper. The reality is much different. The execution is hard and the system is even harder to maintain. You're basically talking about a massive dragon that now has two heads. Again, it depends on the company's goals. However, to any prospective state governments: be careful what you wish for. You might not find the new arrangement quite as pleasing as the advertisement.
"...close the Seattle office..."?
Do you realize what a massive footprint Amazon has in Seattle?
Do you realize what a massive footprint Amazon has in Seattle?
1
20 Years ago the complaint was that Walmart was killing of small downtown stores on Main Street, and all those mom and pop businesses? Now the complaint is that Amazon is killing of Walmart? LOL? Sounds like American change. And it's employees are working too hard to get ahead? What does that doesn't happen in Silicon Valley and in major law firms with new hires? And they are regentrifying the downtown (i.e., cleaning it up and rebuilding it-- I know a lot of northeastern and Rust belt cities that would love to regentrified, please). Yes, Amazon still has the best customer service and a great bran with consumers. Walmart and Barnes and Nobles and malls have had more than a decade to learn from Amazon's successes and failed to do so and failed to execute new innovations well.
3
Fifty thousand people is an enormous number of people to house, to have traveling on roads, and using other public infrastructure, and would present a huge increase in population for most metropolitan areas. North Carolina's Research Triangle might be great area, but 50,000 people represents 22% of its current population. Imagine having tens of thousands of additional cars on the roads of Austin, Texas, or Atlanta, Georgia.
Furthermore, Amazon is in competition with Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft for the best professionals. These entities are heavily represented in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, and Seattle. Attracting someone who lives in Palo Alto or Brooklyn to Detroit, Cleveland, or Lexington, would be a tough sell.
I think there will be a small number of cities that can reasonably compete for such a massive undertaking, and cities that can absorb tens of thousands of people and in which gigantic office buildings can be build close to mass transit will succeed in luring Amazon.
Furthermore, Amazon is in competition with Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft for the best professionals. These entities are heavily represented in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York, and Seattle. Attracting someone who lives in Palo Alto or Brooklyn to Detroit, Cleveland, or Lexington, would be a tough sell.
I think there will be a small number of cities that can reasonably compete for such a massive undertaking, and cities that can absorb tens of thousands of people and in which gigantic office buildings can be build close to mass transit will succeed in luring Amazon.
1
Make Amazon - Jeff Bezos - pay, JEG. He can use all that unregulated, stolen money he has stashed overseas to evade paying taxes. Every single person in any community that tries to lure Amazon with BIG tax breaks had better get out and protest until the local "lawmakers" make Amazon pay for their own developments and all the infrastructure it will cost. Why should YOU pay for someone to have a low-paying job at Amazon? MAKE THEM PAY.
12
@njglea: My comment wasn't directed at the financing of this endeavor, in particular, whether any state or municipal government would be willing to provide tax incentives to Amazon in order to lure this new headquarters project to their city. Indeed, as I point out most municipalities don't have the infrastructure to absorb a workforce of this size, meaning subsidies to Amazon, if any, would only be the first costs assumed by the community.
The headquarters jobs are not "low-paying". You are thinking of the warehouse jobs.
This is what Detroit needs.
17
Who wants to live in Detroit?
5
And I think we could make a strong bid.
Dude, are you seriously saying this from OMAHA??
1
Amazon competes on a global basis for the best and brightest employees. It will not want to be constrained by the vagaries of US immigration policy. Congratulations, Canada (my guess is Toronto for geographical diversity).
While one can "blame" corporations for outsourcing manufacturing jobs, blame for driving away the entrepreneurial and intellectual foundation for the future economy (the new 'job creators) rest solely with Trump and his enabling Republicans.
While one can "blame" corporations for outsourcing manufacturing jobs, blame for driving away the entrepreneurial and intellectual foundation for the future economy (the new 'job creators) rest solely with Trump and his enabling Republicans.
20
Headquarters go to the state that gives it the most incentives. There will be no cake for that state's current residents.
4
I don't think incentives are going to be all that important. A lot of states and cities are offering the sun and the moon and the stars to potential employers and they still lose out. For something that is as important as a second headquarters it's more about the quality of life and not the handouts. Amazon wants to attract the best and the brightest and the mostly highly motivated workers. Those people want to live in a state that reflects their values and has something to offer them in the form of recreation and culture.
5
100% they build in Atlanta. Cost of living is low, favorable tax incentives, along with the most efficient airport in the world. Logistically and financially it is the only option.
4
Atlanta? You have to be kidding. The most efficent airport in the world? I think not. Traffic, on the same level as Southern California.The drivers are even more rude than SoCal. My favorite part of being in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area was still the prominent display of confederate flags and the trash lining the freeways.
11
If you're right, a lot of my fellow Georgia Tech students will be very happy. But then where can we afford to live?
3
I'm sure Atlanta is high on the list, but if you are going to go with a sprawling Southern city, what about Austin or Dallas (or even Raleigh-Durham, if they are flexible on the size requirement)? They seem equally viable, IMHO.
1
Manhattan. Build a building with extra floors for apartments. Rent the apartments to employees at well-below-market, but break-even or small profit-making rates; i.e., the land having been bought anyway for the offices, the only additional cost to the company would be for maintenance and construction of the extra floors. Rent the apartments for that and maybe a little more, not for the sky-high prices you could get on the open market for apartments available to any renters. A great perk to "attract and retain" talent, especially less-affluent employees who otherwise would face long commutes or not be able to work there at all.
7
Please build it in Cleveland, Ohio. You could save an entire region!
5
So what. Robots will do 95% of these jobs in a few years. They won't need people to pull stuff off shelves. Nobody talks about how automation is going to get a lot of people fired, not to mention artificial intelligence. What will all these people do for a living?
Regarding Cleveland: Didn't Bezos say the new center had to be in a place where people want to work?
Regarding Cleveland: Didn't Bezos say the new center had to be in a place where people want to work?
They don't "pull stuff off shelves" in the headquarters. Automation will affect professional jobs at a slower rate than low-skilled jobs.
1
“We want to invest in a community where our employees will enjoy living,...an overall high quality of life"
Sorry, maybe next time.
Sorry, maybe next time.
6
I wish Jeff Bezos / Amazon Team would consider Cleveland, OH or Akron/Canton Area for their 2nd Headquarters 'HQ2' (while the city of Cleveland itself is under 1M), the surrounding population is very large. We have a great cultural life, a talented and educated workforce, excellent universities like CWRU, etc - Cleveland Clinic, 3 Pro Sports teams, Art Museum, World Class Orchestra, low cost housing and so much more to offer.
9
No chance.
The world's best workers in Mexico City, Berlin, Bangalore and Seoul are not going to move to Ohio to live in Trump country.
The world's best workers in Mexico City, Berlin, Bangalore and Seoul are not going to move to Ohio to live in Trump country.
2
This is how it should be. The government (state and fed) might as well pay potential Foxconn employees for the amount of tax breaks they'll give to get jobs there. For 10 years, Foxconn's outlay would probably be less than that for low paid workers in China.
There's no reason the US government and the state government shouldn't subsidize Foxconn billions of dollars at taxpayers expense. If it will help the company be more profitable than great. It aligns perfectly with the GOP principles and platform to subsidize businesses and lean on the government. If it costs thousands of dollars per citizen of Wisconsin each year and high taxes for them then fine. As long the move aligns with their principle of corporate welfare.
Corporate welfare for NON-US companies?
1
Put it in Louisville or Lexington Kentucky and create an influx of blue votes in a red state to get rid of Mitch McConnell.
83
Neither comes anywhere close to a metro area of 1 million.
HKGuy - Louisville is certainly over 1 million, though not Lexington.
1
Bad, you need to actually read a little bit. Louisville is the USA hub for UPS Air -- AMZN already has several major sites there.
http://fortune.com/2017/02/01/amazon-air-cargo-kentucky/
http://fortune.com/2017/02/01/amazon-air-cargo-kentucky/
1
It will probably be on the west coast. Maybe somewhere in California or Vancouver in Canada or Oregon. I don't know why Amazon would go to any uncool places like Midwest or the East coast suburbs. Even if it costs Amazon more money to be on west coast, the population of young technology workers will eventually determine the headquarters. And we know that many people will be on H1B visas so places with already large Asian immigrant population helps. The open areas of postindustrial America is good for the warehouses though. Just remodel all the dead malls to be their warehouses and Amazon will eventually save those communities. Spreading the population without necessary infrastructure is a bad idea. And big business seems to be providing those needs better than local governments these days.
1
Pittsburgh is the place! The city has the cultural infrastructure of a large city; excellent higher education; dynamic tech industry; affordable housing; diversity; accessibility by air, rail, auto;and networked in a region that needs the jobs and economic development! Also, centrally located.
16
As a New Yorker, please don't come here. Go to Detroit, they badly need an economic engine, none better than companies of the future.
24
Everyone on cue start begging from Bezos. Please, master a few crumbs for our needy city or region. Now that he has wiped out so many local businesses he can choose which part of the country to un-depress. How touching.
61
Let me put my tinfoil wizard hat on... I see... purple... yes, a purple state... Bezos will use his influence to pull liberals into the state and tip the scales....
Great Lakes region. Ohio leading the pack because of it's importance in elections.
Great Lakes region. Ohio leading the pack because of it's importance in elections.
10
Believe it or not... Oakland, CA. The smart folks who work for firms like Amazon are interested in work-life balance issues and are concerned with the local environment, including the political culture. This eliminate red-state locales.
1
One word....gentrification........another 2 words....... not good....Oakland is already suffering under the rise of rents, etc.
Reminds me of the split of the Roman Empire into the Western and the Eastern in Constantinople by Diocletian and Constantine. If the Western Amazon HQ is ever attacked by barbarian hordes, or North Korea, Civilization and two-day delivery can still continue to thrive under the Eastern HQ. Prudent thinking Emperor Bezos.
23
Amazon, while good for consumers, is ruining bricks and mortar and retail.
2
Bricks and mortar retailers need to evolve. They need to develop a new business model that makes sense in the 21st century. Some will survive...many will not. This is how progress works. You may not like it, but it is inevitable and a fact of life.
1
You say that like it's a bad thing.
Yeah, but at a brick and mortar store, I had to choose whatever the buyers had decided to buy. I had to try on clothes that had been tried on by previous customers who left their stench in the clothes. Returns? Time-consuming and dealing with store employees who were slow, clueless, arrogant, etc.
Amazon? Well, everyone knows how GREAT they are. What selections. What great customer comments. What perfect suggestions. EASY returns. Prime. Etc., etc., etc.
Amazon? Well, everyone knows how GREAT they are. What selections. What great customer comments. What perfect suggestions. EASY returns. Prime. Etc., etc., etc.
2
Memphis, TN. FedEx hub. Near Nashville Warehouse. Low cost of housing. Available work force.
21
Memphis, TN with no state income tax or personal property taxes!
Memphis is a great place for business and would be great for the workers. A wage that would get you by in most big cities will buy you a very comfortable life here. Lots of old neighborhoods with big trees and walkable streets that are ready for Millennials and Gen Xers to buy and make over. Utilities are excellent and cheap: the city has some of the best water in the country & AT&T Fiber is rolling out to compete with Comcast.
Bring your bikes. The previous Mayor built bike lanes all over and the city has the Greenline- a converted Rail trail that connects a Park 5 times the size of Central Park to the old city. The waterfront is huge and bike friendly. The Big River Crossing and Delta Regional Park is a cyclist's playground downtown.
The new $250 Million Crosstown Urban Village shows adaptive re-use at it's best ( a massive Old Sears Regional Building) and won an International Award. Lots of people coming- including FROM Nashville.
Bring your bikes. The previous Mayor built bike lanes all over and the city has the Greenline- a converted Rail trail that connects a Park 5 times the size of Central Park to the old city. The waterfront is huge and bike friendly. The Big River Crossing and Delta Regional Park is a cyclist's playground downtown.
The new $250 Million Crosstown Urban Village shows adaptive re-use at it's best ( a massive Old Sears Regional Building) and won an International Award. Lots of people coming- including FROM Nashville.
1
The Wasatch Front has about 2 million. SLC Metro has about 1.2 million. We are highly educated, young, and healthy. We have the "Silicon Slopes" tech corridor already. We have gigabit fiber to home. The University of Utah, less than 5 minutes from downtown produces coverts more patents to business than any school not names MIT. Ample outdoors recreation, 7 world class ski resorts 40 minutes or less from downtown. 11 if you stretch the time to 1 hour 15 minutes. Vast mountain forests with countless mountain lakes, 4 National Parks less than 4 hours by car. And don't forget day trips to our world famous Red Rock country down south. Also compared to places to other Tech Centers like Boston, Austin, San Francisco, and NYC...our cost of living is quite low. And the Mountain views from downtown are pretty hard to beat.
1
Not enough diversity.
2
But, Mormons. Everywhere the eye can see. Can they attract the "best and brightest"? Don't get me wrong, I love Utah. I just think if I were one of those workers, I would not move to a place where I couldn't get a similar job if the Amazon one didn't work out. So it needs to be a place that already has a bevy of tech jobs. Boston if I had to bet.
2
You have to think why Bezos is doing this:
1. seattle Earthquake risk
2. North Korea nuclear attack risk to Seattle
Amazon wants a backup facility in case the unthinkable happens.
My short list would be Austin, Raleigh-Durham and Atlanta.
1. seattle Earthquake risk
2. North Korea nuclear attack risk to Seattle
Amazon wants a backup facility in case the unthinkable happens.
My short list would be Austin, Raleigh-Durham and Atlanta.
9
Austin would be great. We've already got a thriving tech industry and a well educated population. Apple, Dell, and Samsung are in the city. The area is progressive, and west coasters love how much house they can get for their money out here. The region is full of transplated Californians. I live in Bastrop, the far southeastern suburb, just because here I could afford a 2000 sqft house on an acre of wooded land for less than a down payment where I grew up in NJ.
1
Bezos is hedging his bets? You forgot our massive volcano next door...
Please do not come to Austin. Terrible traffic. Unbearable summer heat. Crowded running trail. Strange people who dress oddly.
Suffolk County, Long Island, New York offers nice proximity to NYC. We can offer an available now educated and loyal work force. We can accommodate you because we have Lots-o-land available. Our County Execute, Steve Bellone, is a most intelligent and agreeable leader who recognizes a wholesome business/governmental deal when he sees it. I hope he seizes on Amazon as Long Islands new proud achievement. Marriage please!
And I want a whole foods in Southampton PLEASE!
OH... I DO HOPE SO!
And I want a whole foods in Southampton PLEASE!
OH... I DO HOPE SO!
Sunnyside, Queens.
4
Not nearly as crazy as it sounds. Great transportation, including easy access to Jamaica/LIRR hub & Manhattan, but the infrastructure isn't there. Far more likely: Long Island City.
Just what I always wanted. A one-store-controlled (communist) retail outlet run by shaved-head Jeff Bezos. It's okay if unregulated "business" controls OUR lives and shopping choices but not government? Government, which is a social construct to protect 99% of us from the Robber Barons like Bezos?
Wake up people. Stop giving Amazon - rather Jeff Bezos - so much control over your/OUR lives. NOW. Want Amazon in your town/city? Do not give them anything. They can pay for the roads and housing and other infrastructure they require but expect YOU to foot the bill for. Hold your local elected officials feet to the fire. Make Amazon pay BIG for the privilege of residing in YOUR community.
Wake up people. Stop giving Amazon - rather Jeff Bezos - so much control over your/OUR lives. NOW. Want Amazon in your town/city? Do not give them anything. They can pay for the roads and housing and other infrastructure they require but expect YOU to foot the bill for. Hold your local elected officials feet to the fire. Make Amazon pay BIG for the privilege of residing in YOUR community.
116
I don't buy this. I buy it for Google which really has a monopoly. But Amazon is in retail which is incredibly competitive. And Whole Foods is just one of a gazillion food chains.
Yes, Amazon is on the rise and Sears is on the decline -- but there are always changes and they don't necessarily mean monopolistic control.
Yes, Amazon is on the rise and Sears is on the decline -- but there are always changes and they don't necessarily mean monopolistic control.
3
Neither Google or Amazon is a monopoly - they both have dominant market positions because they provide great service to their customers. I can easily shop at Walmart or Target online, or use Bing or Yahoo to do my searches - I have choice, in other words. The fact most of us choose these companies shows they are doing something right, unlike their competitors. A true monopoly would be like old Ma Bell or Comcast in some cities - you use them or have no other choice. It surprises me that people so easily confuse dominant market positions with monopoly.
4
Amazon is killing the competiton, Joe. Haven't you been paying attention?
2
Only progressive states need apply. States that care about progressive values like support for the environment, equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation, and states that are strong supporters of education, science, the arts and culture. States that support a woman's right to choose and seek to provide opportunities for all and not just a privileged few.
134
Instead of excluding non-progressive states, what about bringing in Amazon and its diverse population of employees to demonstrate by example the benefits of being progressive? Let them get the state on the right (left) track with their ballots.
8
You will never get enough of the best and the brightest, the highly motivated young people that Amazon is looking for to live in a conservative state or a state that doesn't have mountains or the ocean. These people want recreational and cultural opportunities...and they respect diversity and equality.
7
Ever see a congressional district gerrymandered into the shape of a corporation's real estate footprint? Just watch.
1
Living in Seattle for more than 30 years, I've seen the remarkable changes due to the Amazon Effect. Number one has to be the price of housing. So I welcome HQ2 if it means the Seattle housing market will finally cool down. My guess for its location would be northern Virginia or Maryland/D.C. After all. Bezos owes the number one newspaper in that region, it has a well-educated workforce, and it's well connected to the rest of the planet.
8
The Md, Va, and DC region couldn't accommodate his project. While we have the workforce that could definitely benefit, we don't have the transportation network. There is definitely opposition to building anymore roads and traffic has been a nightmare for decades. Baltimore might be a good site.
1
I side with those who say Detroit. We moved to Ann Arbor, part of Metro Detroit, two years ago from the DC area and were shocked how great the entire area here is. Sure, parts of Detroit have huge numbers of abandoned houses, but the area is on the rise and one of the fastest growing in the Midwest. Great road system, hugely diverse population, low cost of living, huge talent pool, great airport hub to practically anywhere in the world, and the highest educated county in the US (Washtenaw with UMIch and EastMich). Great healthcare facilities. Weather is good to great nine months a year with rarely a snowstorm (this ain't Buffalo). All major sports and new sports complexes. One of the largest states in produce production of all kinds, including tons of organic. Bezos would be crazy not to pick this gem in the process of being polished once again. Just ask Bill Ford or Mary Barra; we have 18 Fortune 500 companies headquartered here.
67
I'm sure California is 99.9% out of the running (thank goodness!). Detroit or Pittsburgh would be great choices. Good luck!
1
Come on dude, you don't have to dog out Buffalo while boosting Detroit! We both have our fair share of issues and could use an economic boost.
2
I could see Chicago being in the running. O'Hare and the population certainly qualify; with the recent upzoning in the North Branch area of the Chicago River near downtown, the city would be offering expanded density and open space for high-rise development potential, in addition to the thousands Amazon has hired in their facilities in Chicagoland 'burbs surrounding the city: Aurora, Monee, Waukegan, and Kenosha. I'd bet there are certain areas of the city that would welcome the gentrification and increased employment potential, too.
4
You can surely bet Rahm wants in!
1
Norfolk/Virginia Beach - great economy, great growing region, better than average education, massive supply of excellent, disciplined workers as they separate from military service. Great transportation infrastructure and commercial access without being congested.
2
I think you missed the direct flights to Seattle and SF requirement.
1
Have you checked the cost of your flood insurance lately?
Buffalo...but it won't happen. Though there are reasons why it could work:
- Legacy infrastructure from the 1950s to day; Buffalo is regarded as "overbuilt" considering its population decline
- Growth of waterfront/redevelopment: Many projects in the pipeline for the waterfront, including recreating the Erie Canal Harbor and a gigantic park
- Plethora of colleges and universities in University at Buffalo (largest public school in the Northeast), Buffalo State College, and several private colleges. One hour drive to RIT.
- Two hours from Toronto
- International airport on the verge of attaining international airlines
- Recently gave $750 million to Tesla
- Metro of 1.1 million
- Partial subway Light rail system with plans for extenstion to the Amherst campus of UB
- NFL and NHL sports teams
- Low cost of living
Again, Buffalo is circling the drain and I don't think the city can get this. But you have to be in it to win it.
- Legacy infrastructure from the 1950s to day; Buffalo is regarded as "overbuilt" considering its population decline
- Growth of waterfront/redevelopment: Many projects in the pipeline for the waterfront, including recreating the Erie Canal Harbor and a gigantic park
- Plethora of colleges and universities in University at Buffalo (largest public school in the Northeast), Buffalo State College, and several private colleges. One hour drive to RIT.
- Two hours from Toronto
- International airport on the verge of attaining international airlines
- Recently gave $750 million to Tesla
- Metro of 1.1 million
- Partial subway Light rail system with plans for extenstion to the Amherst campus of UB
- NFL and NHL sports teams
- Low cost of living
Again, Buffalo is circling the drain and I don't think the city can get this. But you have to be in it to win it.
A second advantage of Buffalo is that it is on an international border. A satellite office in Fort Erie could serve the Canadian market and provide a home base for skilled employees with visa/green card issues.
2
West Virginia, thus ending the craziness over coal once and for all.
168
I've been saying this exact thing all year! Best thing west coast tech money can do to fight climate change is invest in carbon country.
West Virginia is a beautiful state, but I think Amazon would have a lot of trouble getting 50,000 tech workers to move there.
5
Yeah, lots of imaginative workers, plenty of programmers from other tech firms in the area and a progressive government. Clean air, clear streams and easy access to energy, albeit of the nineteenth-century variety.
2
If you have 50,000 people working at one location you're going to need trains. You can't have 50,000 cars driving in everyday. You need a central location with trains coming in from various directions. This would rule out most of the country except for the Northeast. Windsor Locks CT would be perfect, except the the people now living in Windsor Locks - it would ruin their town.
2
You just described Seattle - too much population density for the roads, no comprehensive public transportation to all points of the city, and a company that has created its own mini-city within the city. Seattle is losing much of what made this place so appealing.
To the cities/regions who might be interested I say if that's what you want - go for it. But don't expect Amazon to give back.
To the cities/regions who might be interested I say if that's what you want - go for it. But don't expect Amazon to give back.
This will likely end up in Vancouver - maybe Toronto. They'll need a place with open immigration policies where they can actually get the talent they need. The closed borders Trump is putting up make very little sense in Tech.
36
How much talent does it take to work in an unheated warehouse?
1
Vancouver will never happen because of the housing costs.
2
read carefully, this is a headquarters. That's middle class jobs, any city with a council worth a penny should be putting together a committee to explore a bid. Toronto and Vancouver could compete except for the high cost of housing. I think Buffalo and Detroit are both excellent choices but Trump may be the defining factor here if the anti-immigration focus continues. If Bezos were to come out and explicitly warn about the consequences you could see a moderate republican revolt but any red state is an unlikely recipient just on the basis of fiscal/social policies let alone the electoral district gerrymandering that has negatively impacted peoples right to be heard through voting. This is how corporations can most effectively impact republican policies.
1
We'll give a couple billion for sure Jeff. You can build it right near your current distribution center and the new Foxconn factory in southeast Wisconsin. Call Scott.
1
This is nothing to celebrate.
2
Bezos owns the Washington Post and has a home in Kalorama...
1
Pittsburgh. Relatively inexpensive. A real, but manageable downtown, and one of the top tech universities in the country. Before you say no, go for a visit, Jeff.
34
I lived there for a year, and agree Pittsburgh would be a great choice; However, being a state that went deplorable last year may put it out of the running.
1
Obviously it should be on Trantor.
1
Connecticut. east of Hartford there are many acres of land that had grown tobacco, set between routes 84 and 91. Lots of affordable housing and the children and grand children of the aircraft workers and farm laborers looking for work.
1
There is nothing affordable about Connecticut. And nothing attractive to young tech workers who want diversity, outdoor recreation and vibrant city life.
Detroit is just beginning a Renaissance that will transform the city.
So many people of vision and good will, many of them young, many of them artists, are working to make Detroit a wonderful place to live and work.
As one of the six richest men in the world, Jeff, you have the capacity to do good on a scale more vast than almost any figure in history. This is your opportunity for greatness.
Go the Detroit. Pay fair taxes. Offer good wages and benefits.
This could be your legacy. Please consider this opportunity.
So many people of vision and good will, many of them young, many of them artists, are working to make Detroit a wonderful place to live and work.
As one of the six richest men in the world, Jeff, you have the capacity to do good on a scale more vast than almost any figure in history. This is your opportunity for greatness.
Go the Detroit. Pay fair taxes. Offer good wages and benefits.
This could be your legacy. Please consider this opportunity.
53
Philadelphia would be great choice!
5
I think you want the second HQs in the northeast, a bit inland and away from the threat of terrific natural disasters like hurricanes, frequent tornadoes and earthquake zones. And one where there is a strong tech workforce and institutes of higher education. So Toronto (or Buffalo), or Pittsburgh.
1
A silly thought, I'm sure, but would Bezos consider a suburban site, maybe a few miles outside of a major city in the Midwest, but a site sitting beside a multiple lane interstate that will soon connect Mexico and Montreal in an area where building land is plentiful and real estate prices and property taxes are low? An area like that does exist.
Hey, that sounds like Dayton Ohio!! ;)
1
Ha ha, nope! You're not on that direct connection between Mexico and Montreal, although you are at I-70 and I-75. Good location, though. Actually, I'm talking about 75 miles to the west of Dayton... The I-69 corridor when completed, which will connect south Texas, Houston, Memphis, Indy, Ft.Wayne, Lansing and Flint with Mexican routes and Canadian routes. And Indy and its' environs have lots of building land, low taxes and low real estate, to say nothing of a central location and a top-five rated airport in the United States.
No, I don't work for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and yes, I'm prejudiced. I've been everywhere in the U.S., there's wonderful places throughout, but either downtown Indy where the old GM plant used to be or north of Indy would be a wonderful location for a sprawling complex.
No, I don't work for the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and yes, I'm prejudiced. I've been everywhere in the U.S., there's wonderful places throughout, but either downtown Indy where the old GM plant used to be or north of Indy would be a wonderful location for a sprawling complex.
Let's write the job ad:
Dear experienced California/Seattle-dwelling tech worker or Ivy League recent grad:
Check out this great job opportunity with Amazon! In addition to all the great job features, we have a great location in Indianapolis! Enjoy the state that elected Mike Pence as governor! Bring your skis and surfboards, because we've got mountai... er, well there's always the ocea..., OK maybe not. Bring your guns! You can hunt on our prairies! And, hey, female tech workers, you can enjoy a progressive environment that supports women's iss..., er, well, there will be a bunch of tech bro's if you want to get married!
Sorry to snark. But this is Amazon's audience for jobs.
Dear experienced California/Seattle-dwelling tech worker or Ivy League recent grad:
Check out this great job opportunity with Amazon! In addition to all the great job features, we have a great location in Indianapolis! Enjoy the state that elected Mike Pence as governor! Bring your skis and surfboards, because we've got mountai... er, well there's always the ocea..., OK maybe not. Bring your guns! You can hunt on our prairies! And, hey, female tech workers, you can enjoy a progressive environment that supports women's iss..., er, well, there will be a bunch of tech bro's if you want to get married!
Sorry to snark. But this is Amazon's audience for jobs.
3
Kasich better pull up his email and make a proposal for Columbus.
2
No, thanks.
I suggest Coos Bay Oregon or Florence Oregon. The only difficulty will be getting them to put in proper Interstate quality highways from the coast to I5 and improving I5 with greater width.
Said they needed large metro area of million or more
1
Why not Minneapolis? The Twin Cities metro is 3.5 million and growing. The area is home to several Fortune 1000 companies, including Target and Best Buy - Amazon competitors. There are also a number of large, private companies based in the area so, talent is coming from all over. There are several colleges / universities within the metro. The existing workforce is highly educated and very dedicated. The MSP International airport is growing and is only 10 minutes from downtown Minneapolis. The cost of living is lower than Seattle, Denver, Chicago, and a number of other cities. The transit system within Minneapolis is better than what most cities have. Also, Amazon already has an office in downtown Minneapolis and a distribution center in Shakopee so the company is familiar with area.
17
Minneapolis will probably get a look as it does have some positives. I think the biggest issue for Minneapolis, though, is how similar it is to Seattle in many ways. I think Amazon will want an HQ2 location to have some commonality with HQ1, but Minneapolis, to me, just feels like an inland Seattle. Plus, all the sizing issues Amazon has in Seattle, they'd quickly have in Minneapolis, too.
I agree, as I've stated elsewhere here. It's the "sleeper" candidate; however, they don't really need Amazon, but I think Amazon needs them!
The only outstanding issue with Minneapolis/St. Paul is that they need to build-out their new light rail system. Congestion, so I understand, is worsening, but isn't it everywhere?
Everything else is in place: many highly accredited schools, highly educated professional workforce, great people/community, intense work ethic, very outdoors/activity-orientated, family friendly, progressive, lots of big companies to cross-fertilize with, huge cultural resources per capita, and so on.
But – and it's a big but - a lot of Minnesotans don't want other people to know about all this. They like being on the down-low and fairly passive-aggressive, both personally and professionally. I learned the latter the hard way...
It's the Tundra but they're serious people.
The only outstanding issue with Minneapolis/St. Paul is that they need to build-out their new light rail system. Congestion, so I understand, is worsening, but isn't it everywhere?
Everything else is in place: many highly accredited schools, highly educated professional workforce, great people/community, intense work ethic, very outdoors/activity-orientated, family friendly, progressive, lots of big companies to cross-fertilize with, huge cultural resources per capita, and so on.
But – and it's a big but - a lot of Minnesotans don't want other people to know about all this. They like being on the down-low and fairly passive-aggressive, both personally and professionally. I learned the latter the hard way...
It's the Tundra but they're serious people.
St Paul/Minneapolis. Great universities, sports scene, outdoor winter summer activities, theater, metro planning, progressive governance, thriving urban areas, low chance of natural disasters, clean air and water, school systems, transportation infrastructure, medical services leader, and work ethic,
6
The greater Minneapolis/St Paul area is such an easy choice for a large tech company looking to create a second HQ campus. Our emerging culture is begging for tech companies to build more offices here. Even some satellite offices would be a huge boon.
44
Minneapolis/St Paul has lots of pros, though is notorious for the difficulties corporations have at attracting and transplanting talent there. People born there want to live nowhere else, people born elsewhere finds MSP pleasant (even if cold) but difficult to break-in socially (which too easily blends into professionally) and transplants too often end up not wanting to stay.
2
Two downtowns just 10 miles apart, and Minneapolis and St. Paul is one geographically-contiguous urban core of 725,000 and growing. 3 million in the 7-county metro area, 3.5 million in the greater Twin Cities. But for legal definitions, they form one city. Midway in St. Paul is in the middle of the two cities, halfway to each downtown, and it now has a big parcel of land available for redevelopment with the closing of Midway Center due to the MLS stadium being built there. All 3 commercial centers of the urban core are 10 miles from the MSP airport. Downtown St. Paul has space available. I think Amazon will situate different parts of its HQ2 in different locations in the same metro area, and it's important for the Twin Cities to make a regional pitch.
1
NE Ohio has lots of space, great interstate, beautiful area in many ways. Visiting there is always a pleasure.
The real question is how much of that five billion dollars is Amazon going to actually pay, and how much are cities going to compete to fall over themselves offering tax breaks to offset it.
15
Raleigh/Durham!
I'm right now in the eye of the Amazon storm in Seattle, and The Research Triangle area is where I would want move to. Direct flights from Seattle to new Raleigh airport, LOTS of land to build on, Duke, etc. State gov hopeless, but you can't have everything! Lovely area, lovely people...my pick!
I'm right now in the eye of the Amazon storm in Seattle, and The Research Triangle area is where I would want move to. Direct flights from Seattle to new Raleigh airport, LOTS of land to build on, Duke, etc. State gov hopeless, but you can't have everything! Lovely area, lovely people...my pick!
3
Bezos is aware of the agglomerative economics of being in a major city - that the premium companies pay is often worth it, in terms of the value of chance meetings, diverse populations exchanging ideas, attracting top talent. Companies and their employees will pay premium to be in NYC and other first-tier cities in large part for this value.
I don't see Bezos pandering to Trump, choosing a second-tier city in a red state. This is a long-term, generational commitment, and sustainability is key. I think Austin's not in the running in part because of its weather - hot, getting hotter - and its state government could turn hostile towards Amazon in the coming years.
California is probably out, not so much because it's on the West Coast like Seattle or because of supposed over-regulation, but because of the lack of housing - a situation with no foreseeable solution, the increasing severity of which will no doubt be unfairly blamed on Amazon should it move to LA or the Bay area.
I'll bet Amazon will choose NYC despite its housing issues - its world-class, explosive dynamism outweighing housing concerns - or DC-adjacent northern Virginia (Arlington, Tysons Corner) or Maryland, for its wealthy environs (the nation's wealthiest counties), closeness to DC (lobbying, regulatory engagement), native human capital, plentiful housing, and generally good governance. HQ2 in Northern Virginia would, by the way, help nudge a "purple-blue" state towards becoming even more blue...
I don't see Bezos pandering to Trump, choosing a second-tier city in a red state. This is a long-term, generational commitment, and sustainability is key. I think Austin's not in the running in part because of its weather - hot, getting hotter - and its state government could turn hostile towards Amazon in the coming years.
California is probably out, not so much because it's on the West Coast like Seattle or because of supposed over-regulation, but because of the lack of housing - a situation with no foreseeable solution, the increasing severity of which will no doubt be unfairly blamed on Amazon should it move to LA or the Bay area.
I'll bet Amazon will choose NYC despite its housing issues - its world-class, explosive dynamism outweighing housing concerns - or DC-adjacent northern Virginia (Arlington, Tysons Corner) or Maryland, for its wealthy environs (the nation's wealthiest counties), closeness to DC (lobbying, regulatory engagement), native human capital, plentiful housing, and generally good governance. HQ2 in Northern Virginia would, by the way, help nudge a "purple-blue" state towards becoming even more blue...
7
I think he'll choose NYC for its great European plane connections,as well as connections everywhere else, world government & diverse economy. As for housing prices, they're still reasonable in a large swathe of the Outer Boroughs.
Atlanta is the ideal location. It has the world's busiest airport, cost of living is cheaper compared to other major metro areas, has a world class tech talent with Georgia Tech pumping out qualified professionals.
Geographically, it is perfectly nestled in the southeast which compliments the location of HQ1 in Seattle. Atlanta has had many companies re-locate here and the Buckhead/Midtown area has transformed itself into a tech-hub.
Along with HQs of Coca-Cola, UPS, Home Depot, CNN and many others, Amazon can thrive in Atlanta.
Geographically, it is perfectly nestled in the southeast which compliments the location of HQ1 in Seattle. Atlanta has had many companies re-locate here and the Buckhead/Midtown area has transformed itself into a tech-hub.
Along with HQs of Coca-Cola, UPS, Home Depot, CNN and many others, Amazon can thrive in Atlanta.
48
Correct, and it is also a hub for transportation and retail / wholesale distribution, which are core competencies of Amazon.
3
Atlanta has terrible traffic..
3
Atlanta is beset by atrocious traffic problems and has no viable plans to resolve them (nor local will, as the TSPLOST debacle demonstrated), and a state government rife with corruption and dominated by rural politicians obsessed with passing retrograde civil rights bills.
3
Minneapolis-St.Paul
6
Long Beach!
1
Looking at it from a pure business standpoint and skipping the political , Kansas City Missouri or Kansas makes perfect sense..Smack dab in the middle of the USA, a huge trucking hub, and lots of room to grow at their airport for those planes Bezos wants to start flying......I fly in there often to visit family in Southwest Missouri and my husband went to Grad school there........It is a growing city with a work ethic population.
For us, personally, we left because we wanted a milder climate here in the Northwest...But, I still enjoy traveling back to a city with truly nice people and a real community spirit and pride.
For us, personally, we left because we wanted a milder climate here in the Northwest...But, I still enjoy traveling back to a city with truly nice people and a real community spirit and pride.
2
East Coast to be closer to Europe. Philadelphia Navy Yard - has the space, infrastructure, approvals in place, between downtown and airport, next to I-95, transit system. Large metro region with affordable housing stock. Major universities - Penn, Temple, Drexel and smaller colleges - Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Swarthmore, etc. etc. nearby.
16
Don't forget Princeton is nearby Philadelphia too. Both Bezos and his wife went there.
4
Dear Amazon,
Please do not locate HQ2 in a state that supports the repeal of DACA. We must keep the American dream alive.
Please do not locate HQ2 in a state that supports the repeal of DACA. We must keep the American dream alive.
69
Mexicans came up the Santa Fe Trail to Kansas City in large numbers beginning in the 1860s. Those numbers increased in the 1920s, and the children, grandchildren, etc. have been an important part of the beautiful city ever since. The Mexican-American population on the West Side makes that one of the most interesting and lively neighborhoods in the city today.
3
Keep in mind that Trump hates Bezo and the FCC is pushing to overturn net neutrality. This single move will wind up hurting our economy, citizens and enrich the cable companies. So much for growing sectors of the economy.
Seattle? Seems to make the most sense.
Second may be Vancouver, BC. Right next door to Seattle.
Second may be Vancouver, BC. Right next door to Seattle.
1
Did you read the article? Seattle is still HQ1. They are looking for a second location to join Seattle.
2
Anywhere on the East Coast where employees can use public transportation.
3
Pittsburgh should be the choice. Heck, we have a relatively new airport that could practically give them a dedicated terminal to handle their business traffic!
The city offers a thriving cultural district, plus a rebounding local economy focused on technology, education and medicine. "Tech, eds and meds" are bridging the gap between old industrial Pittsburgh and a new Pittsburgh that’s all about innovation and new technology.
The city offers a thriving cultural district, plus a rebounding local economy focused on technology, education and medicine. "Tech, eds and meds" are bridging the gap between old industrial Pittsburgh and a new Pittsburgh that’s all about innovation and new technology.
12
It will be near Washington, and near to Bezos' house.
3
Fall River, Mass is where it's at.
1
Chicago!
Pros - Population diversity (along with vibrant neighborhoods like Pilsen, Chinatown, Boys Town), beautiful architecture, lakefront access, Chicago River Walk, Grant Park, room for expansion (West and South Loop), world class museums and culture, 6 major universities within city limits + Northwestern (about 30 minutes north in Evanston), excellent transportation, sports, reasonable real estate prices (compared to New York and SF), bike friendly, great suburbs, clean sidewalks (no trash heaps like in NY), summers!
Cons - City pension funding, gang shootings in south side neighborhoods.
Pros - Population diversity (along with vibrant neighborhoods like Pilsen, Chinatown, Boys Town), beautiful architecture, lakefront access, Chicago River Walk, Grant Park, room for expansion (West and South Loop), world class museums and culture, 6 major universities within city limits + Northwestern (about 30 minutes north in Evanston), excellent transportation, sports, reasonable real estate prices (compared to New York and SF), bike friendly, great suburbs, clean sidewalks (no trash heaps like in NY), summers!
Cons - City pension funding, gang shootings in south side neighborhoods.
15
Greenville, South Carolina
1
Austin, Texas would be a great option. Facebook, Dell, Google, Samsung, and many other major companies have strong bases here. The city is very livable, with rivers and lakes. Low crime and low natural disaster risk. And wouldn't be a redundant location like Vancouver, they could cover far more ground. Not to mention, Texas has an extremely strong economy that is favorable to businesses.
3
I echo the first suggestion of Vancouver. Microsoft launched the "Cascadia Innovation Corridor" initiative a year ago, intended to create a tech corridor between Seattle and Vancouver, with speeches by the mayors of the two cities, the governor of WA and premier of BC, the presidents of University of Washington and University of British Columbia, and Bill Gates. The second such symposium is next week. Amazon has already committed to greatly expanding its growing presence in downtown Vancouver. There's lots of tech talent. Vancouver has a budding IT sector focused on VR/AR, which complements Seattle's emphasis on cloud and enterprise computing.
Today's NYT has a "36 hours in Vancouver" story that highlights the amenities that distinguish the city from all of the others being proposed. Most importantly today, it doesn't have gun violence or Neanderthalian national politics to contend with. It's not perfect--housing is expensive (similar to Seattle), the train to Seattle needs a major upgrade, there are no anchor major corporations based there, and it rains a lot.
Did I mention the part about politics?
Today's NYT has a "36 hours in Vancouver" story that highlights the amenities that distinguish the city from all of the others being proposed. Most importantly today, it doesn't have gun violence or Neanderthalian national politics to contend with. It's not perfect--housing is expensive (similar to Seattle), the train to Seattle needs a major upgrade, there are no anchor major corporations based there, and it rains a lot.
Did I mention the part about politics?
9
Housing prices in Vancouver easily twice to three times those of Seattle, a shack on the lower mainland will cost you $2 million and up. Otherwise, great place.
1
100% agree with you. That they didn't say American but instead North American tells you something right there
Please don't come to Boston/Cambridge. We can't figure out how we're going to house the workers coming to the new world HQ of GE let alone figure out how to deal with the traffic and parking for them. Traffic congestion that came with the multitude of pharma tech companies that flocked here to be near Harvard, MIT, B.U., B.C., Tufts, etc. can't be overstated.
7
Detroit! So much land, so cheap. Great talent pool coming out of UMich and Chicago universities. Totally revamped downtown area in the last 10 years. The city is safer, cleaner, and more attractive than it's been in decades. Huge airport hub.
Come to Detroit, my dear Amazon!
Come to Detroit, my dear Amazon!
14
Bezos,
Be a hero.
Build it in Detroit.
Be a hero.
Build it in Detroit.
88
What everyone seems to be forgetting with their nominations is that they will need to locate somewhere that will be attractive for recruiting high-value employees who can work anywhere, people that flock to places like Seattle, Denver, Los Angeles, New York and Boston. Of course, that is what has contributed to the rising expenses of these cities. This is not the same as building a car plant somewhere.
Cities which don't have the recreational and economic opportunities will be face a steeper challenge in attracting these employees, no matter how cheap they are. The best shot will be a city which may be perceived as up and coming by this workforce while also a city welcoming to people of all kinds. I don't know many smart strivers that want to live in Trump's America.
Austin (despite being surrounded by Texas), Philadelphia and possibly Pittsburgh are my calls.
Cities which don't have the recreational and economic opportunities will be face a steeper challenge in attracting these employees, no matter how cheap they are. The best shot will be a city which may be perceived as up and coming by this workforce while also a city welcoming to people of all kinds. I don't know many smart strivers that want to live in Trump's America.
Austin (despite being surrounded by Texas), Philadelphia and possibly Pittsburgh are my calls.
9
It doesn't have to be in the USA, of course. There are other countries in North America...
2
The NYT has fallen for the perfectly placed Amazon leak. It's come out just the way Amazon wants and let the bidding war begin! Let's see what pitiful city prostitutes themselves the most for fictional "economic benefits" and a company that will either be recognized as a ponzi scheme (check their earnings) or run afoul of anti-trust laws (because they make no money themselves, their survival is predicated on the elimination of their competition).
11
Go for Ohio. It's obvious. I'm from Ohio. It's the crossroads of America. Relatively low cost of living, decent schools, moderate weather. Also, good airports, extensive interstate highways. Why not Dayton or Cincinnati???
Columbus is the obvious choice, exactly central. And, Amazon folks are very likely to be Democrats. Bonus!
Columbus is the obvious choice, exactly central. And, Amazon folks are very likely to be Democrats. Bonus!
2
Seven U.S. states currently don't have an income tax: Alaska,
Florida, Nevada,South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.
And residents of New Hampshire and Tennessee
He has Washington, so perhaps Texas or Tennessee. NH has the nearby university system (Harvard, Dartmouth, MIT, BC, Tufts...) but would have to build a major airport. For 50,000 jobs, they might. NH also fits with his granola culture.
Florida, Nevada,South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.
And residents of New Hampshire and Tennessee
He has Washington, so perhaps Texas or Tennessee. NH has the nearby university system (Harvard, Dartmouth, MIT, BC, Tufts...) but would have to build a major airport. For 50,000 jobs, they might. NH also fits with his granola culture.
Really? I see Vermont as the granola culture and New Hampshire as your crazy right-wing uncle you put up with on major holidays.
Anyway, they might not have sales or income taxes, but property taxes are "lavish", to put it mildly.
Anyway, they might not have sales or income taxes, but property taxes are "lavish", to put it mildly.
There would be a nice symmetry to opening their new headquarters in the hollowed out hulk of a dead suburban shopping mall.
20
Consider Canada. Calgary has all the right ingredients.
1
-------------------------- Beautiful Kansas City -------------------------
1) Centrally located. Easy access from everywhere.
2) Beautiful. Fun. Cheap.
3) Kansas City Art Institute, UMKC, Nelson Gallery, Country Club Plaza, Power and Light District, Westport, etc.
4) Lots of history.
1) Centrally located. Easy access from everywhere.
2) Beautiful. Fun. Cheap.
3) Kansas City Art Institute, UMKC, Nelson Gallery, Country Club Plaza, Power and Light District, Westport, etc.
4) Lots of history.
2
Anywhere but here.
2
I agree with R. Vasquez. Very strong possibility of Austin or San Antonio. However, don't discount NYC making an offer Amazon can't refuse. NY sucked in GE. Of course that $150 million dollar gift did nothing for the stockholders GE.
2
Reminder - The criteria was for a city of 1 million plus population, so sorry folks, Austin, Atlanta, Charlotte do not qualify
List of Population 1 million plus US cities 2010:
Source: https://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/largest-cities-list.php
List of Population 1 million plus US cities 2010:
Source: https://www.currentresults.com/Weather-Extremes/US/largest-cities-list.php
1
Reminder to the Reminder - the article said "metropolitan area" of over 1million. Doesn't matter where they draw the city lines.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Metropolitan_Statistical_Areas
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Metropolitan_Statistical_Areas
4
Actually it was for a metro area with population of at least a million. Over 50 such areas in the US: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Metropolitan_Statistical_Areas
3
Pretty sure they mean metro area, not arbitrary city limits. And Austin is about to pass the 1 million mark any day/week now.
2
When Amazon claims to seek a 'business-friendly' environment they are of course looking to get cities in a bidding war for tax concessions. While corporations are people - real people (who are not corporations) don't get to make bribery and extortion negotiating tactics for conducting their business.
EXTORTION:
the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats.
BRIBE:
persuade (someone) to act in one's favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement.
EXTORTION:
the practice of obtaining something, especially money, through force or threats.
BRIBE:
persuade (someone) to act in one's favor, typically illegally or dishonestly, by a gift of money or other inducement.
7
I guess I have to support Detroit. Rebuild that great city!
16
Yes Detroit. Let's not forget that AZ already has a large distribution center here and are building a second one.
2
"inviting proposals", fancy words that mean, EXTORTION! No city or state should give one dime to companies to locate or relocate!
3
Extortion? No ones being held hostage here. Asking fir bribes perhaps but that's not extortion
Please don't come to the Northeast. We are already way too crowded and don't need housing prices pushed any higher. Although 50,000 jobs sounds like a great deal, the stress on roads, schools, and the environment is more than this area can handle.
1
Please help our friends Detroit! And don't scam them on not paying taxes, Lord knows they need the revenue!
16
Given that Amazon is looking for a true HQ2, it wouldn't make sense to have it in the Northwest, such as Portland or Vancouver. Even another near, west coast office, such as San Francisco sounds redundant to attract east coast talent or balance travel.
Chances are they would lean central or east coast for a HQ2. This could mean a Texas metro region like Austin or a NYC region office. Maybe even close to their Kentucky shipping hub. I want to say Phili or Boston, but to attract lots of talent, it would make more sense to aim at NYC metro region. I imagine they have a lot of trouble recruiting top talent from the north east, as a cross country move is a big ask even for Amazon.
It would be great if they chose an area like Brooklyn for a trendy HQ2 location closer to affordable housing, closer to JFK, and a little removed but still accessible from Manhattan. Unfortunately NYC has huge commuter burdens, we have the infrastructure but it doesn't handle the existing population+commuters well. You're not going to find 50,000 workers in local Brooklyn, people will come from other areas too. Union square area could be more centralized. For 50k potential workers you're looking at building an "Amazon Tower" building, with huge logo at the top.
Chances are they would lean central or east coast for a HQ2. This could mean a Texas metro region like Austin or a NYC region office. Maybe even close to their Kentucky shipping hub. I want to say Phili or Boston, but to attract lots of talent, it would make more sense to aim at NYC metro region. I imagine they have a lot of trouble recruiting top talent from the north east, as a cross country move is a big ask even for Amazon.
It would be great if they chose an area like Brooklyn for a trendy HQ2 location closer to affordable housing, closer to JFK, and a little removed but still accessible from Manhattan. Unfortunately NYC has huge commuter burdens, we have the infrastructure but it doesn't handle the existing population+commuters well. You're not going to find 50,000 workers in local Brooklyn, people will come from other areas too. Union square area could be more centralized. For 50k potential workers you're looking at building an "Amazon Tower" building, with huge logo at the top.
Clearly, the CLT. International airport, east coast base, young educated population with analytical talent and great weather; 2-3 hrs to the mountains or the coast. Cost of living is cheap comparative to larger cities.
I'm not bias though...
I'm not bias though...
1
An ok option but no universities of note.
Raleigh-Durham makes more sense.
Raleigh-Durham makes more sense.
Amazon should pick Charlotte, NC. The area is beautiful year round, and is located 4 hours from the beach, mountains and other major cities such as Atlanta, GA and Raleigh, NC. It is booming financial center in the US, is diverse and has a good mix of colleges, sports teams and family-oriented neighborhoods. Also, you can get a home in any of the surrounding area for around $150,000 with great schools.
1
HB2.
5
The home of the original bathroom bill?
I don't think that NC will attract any forward thinking businesses for the foreseeable future.
I don't think that NC will attract any forward thinking businesses for the foreseeable future.
12
NC is likely out of the running based on politics.
15
Amazon says "North America." That would make Vancouver, just up the road in British Columbia, a solid choice.
The cheaper Canadian dollar is combined with universal health care, which frees Amazon from having to provide health care to its employees in Canada. Gun control in Canada makes the city safer than large US cities.
Plus Amazon employees in Seattle can drive to Vancouver in a few hours or fly in 20 minutes, making communication and transfers between the two headquarters relatively easy.
Vancouver was recently rated by The Economist as the third most liveable city in the world, followed by Calgary and Toronto, also sound choices for Amazon. Other posters are touting the southern US for low taxes, but I think a liveable city is far more attractive.
Come on Amazon, show us how much of an international company you are. Go Canada Go!
The cheaper Canadian dollar is combined with universal health care, which frees Amazon from having to provide health care to its employees in Canada. Gun control in Canada makes the city safer than large US cities.
Plus Amazon employees in Seattle can drive to Vancouver in a few hours or fly in 20 minutes, making communication and transfers between the two headquarters relatively easy.
Vancouver was recently rated by The Economist as the third most liveable city in the world, followed by Calgary and Toronto, also sound choices for Amazon. Other posters are touting the southern US for low taxes, but I think a liveable city is far more attractive.
Come on Amazon, show us how much of an international company you are. Go Canada Go!
69
Wrong. Housing conditions are a consideration. What good is a new HQ if no one can live anywhere? Plus they are going for geographic consideration. So while Toronto could be a remote possibility, housing considerations knock that city as well. Think Dallas, Austin, Raleigh-Durham, Chicago
6
Yes, I can totally see them moving to one of the few places where real estate is even more expensive than Seattle. /s
9
Good argument, but do large corporations ever consider real world things like housing when the locate their facilities? If the city has to have one million plus population, the list is fairly short and I can’t think of very many cities over one million that have much affordable housing stock. Maybe they could build a company town and completely own the employees, much as they are trying to do with consumers through their various services like “Prime” and the automatic ordering schemes.
2
I think Denver will be a good spot for HQ2. Its central location in the US and flights to every city is within 3 hours. The climate is reasonably good. The area is free of major earthquakes and constant flooding. It also has plenty of national parks within driving distance. Outdoor sports are plenty both in summer and winter times. Although Colorado lacks internationally reputable university, however, Colorado School of Mine is not too bad. And the state & city is growing with more young people move in. So there are plenty of manpower. What could you ask for more?
4
No water.
@Usok: I agree about Denver. There's still lots of land available to build on close to the city and the airport. There are mountain venues within driving distance for snowboarding, skiing, hiking, river-rafting, kayaking and other winter sports, and the mountains are even more beautiful in the summer.
Denver has great theater, opera, art museums, libraries and public schools. It also has the best bookstore in the country, The Tattered Cover. Amazon may consider it competition, but it's one of the best-loved cultural resources in the city.
Also, compared to places like Baltimore and Philly, everything seems bright, shiny and new in Denver. It's energetic and booming.
I own houses in two states, including one with a warmer climate where I'd planned to retire. But I've changed my mind. I've decided to spend the rest of my life in Denver. It really is a wonderful place to work and live.
Denver has great theater, opera, art museums, libraries and public schools. It also has the best bookstore in the country, The Tattered Cover. Amazon may consider it competition, but it's one of the best-loved cultural resources in the city.
Also, compared to places like Baltimore and Philly, everything seems bright, shiny and new in Denver. It's energetic and booming.
I own houses in two states, including one with a warmer climate where I'd planned to retire. But I've changed my mind. I've decided to spend the rest of my life in Denver. It really is a wonderful place to work and live.
Denver has been buying up water rights all across the state. They have a plan for growth. That is what progressive cities do. They think ahead and move forward. Water is not going to be a problem.
If Amazon's tech needs are going to be met in Seattle, then the next HQ could be almost anywhere. If the need is for more tech, then New York, Boston, or Austin.
And it won't make up for the 500,000 retail jobs being lost in the disruption, but that's life in an organic economy where change is the norm.
And it won't make up for the 500,000 retail jobs being lost in the disruption, but that's life in an organic economy where change is the norm.
1
"The announcement is likely to set off jockeying among several major cities"
The good : The wisdom of market competition, endorsed by economists
The bad: Urban planning will be disrupted yet again
The ugly: There will be tax abatements offered for years, with citizens to pick up the tab.
The good : The wisdom of market competition, endorsed by economists
The bad: Urban planning will be disrupted yet again
The ugly: There will be tax abatements offered for years, with citizens to pick up the tab.
4
50,000 skilled employees paying various levels of taxes and you think it will be a net loss?
2
Inasmuch as Bezos has Texas roots I imagine the Lone Star State has to be a top contender. One of the mid-size towns between Austin and San Antonio would be my bet. Two good airports, crossroads of I-10 and I-35 and a large, educated and diverse population. Plus low labor and housing costs and easy access to Mexico.
10
Amazon, unlike every other major tech company, wants an urban campus. You really have to visit here to see it at work. They don't want some spare patch of land between Austin and San Antonio (one of the ugliest and most blighted by billboards stretch of highway I've ever had the misfortune of driving).
5
I was just thinking the same thing. This would be perfect!!
Come to Kansas City!
We are in the heart of the country. We have tons of space. There are huge tracts of land just south of downtown that are begging for redevelopment. Downtown is being rapidly developed, a few miles south is solid, but there remains a large area in between that is prime for use, with many unused properties.
We also have large tracts of land further south that are ripe for development. The area has a good highway system, many excellent universities and colleges. We are a transportation hub with, truck, rail, barge, and plane service.
Kansas City is ringed with many prosperous suburbs that are only 20 to 30 minutes drive from downtown. We aren't landlocked. There is plenty of room to grow.
Cerner is building a gigantic five billion dollar office complex in the southern part of town. There is plenty of unused space nearby.
We have lots of housing stock and many older homes that can be restored near downtown. Highrise apartments are being built downtown.
Housing prices are much lower here. You can buy a really nice house for $200K. Very strong fine arts community. We have world class art galleries and performing arts center. A fine ballet, opera and symphony orchestra.
No hurricanes. Minimal flooding, only in a few areas. Doesn't snow much anymore. They electric utility, KCPL, supports solar power.
Check us out!
We are in the heart of the country. We have tons of space. There are huge tracts of land just south of downtown that are begging for redevelopment. Downtown is being rapidly developed, a few miles south is solid, but there remains a large area in between that is prime for use, with many unused properties.
We also have large tracts of land further south that are ripe for development. The area has a good highway system, many excellent universities and colleges. We are a transportation hub with, truck, rail, barge, and plane service.
Kansas City is ringed with many prosperous suburbs that are only 20 to 30 minutes drive from downtown. We aren't landlocked. There is plenty of room to grow.
Cerner is building a gigantic five billion dollar office complex in the southern part of town. There is plenty of unused space nearby.
We have lots of housing stock and many older homes that can be restored near downtown. Highrise apartments are being built downtown.
Housing prices are much lower here. You can buy a really nice house for $200K. Very strong fine arts community. We have world class art galleries and performing arts center. A fine ballet, opera and symphony orchestra.
No hurricanes. Minimal flooding, only in a few areas. Doesn't snow much anymore. They electric utility, KCPL, supports solar power.
Check us out!
3
No public transportation.
Walkability scores are extremely low. No diversity. Didn't a white nationalist terrorist just shoot several Indians a year ago in KC.
I don't see it.
Walkability scores are extremely low. No diversity. Didn't a white nationalist terrorist just shoot several Indians a year ago in KC.
I don't see it.
9
AGREE!
(I just sent in a comment urging great Amazon to choose BEAUTIFUL KANSAS CITY. Hope the moderators run it.)
(Always like your comments, Bruce.)
(I just sent in a comment urging great Amazon to choose BEAUTIFUL KANSAS CITY. Hope the moderators run it.)
(Always like your comments, Bruce.)
The murder of two Indians was in Overland Park, Kansas.
Kansas City is in Missouri. (There is a Kansas City in Kansas, too, but Amazon should come to the real original beautiful diverse Kansas City.)
Whoever assigned an "extremely low" "walkability score" to Kansas City should come for a visit and a walk. Maybe around the Plaza. Maybe along Ward Parkway. Maybe around the Nelson. Maybe on the West Side. Maybe up 39th Street. Maybe on the East Side. Maybe take a run along the old Country Club streetcar line to Brookside. Etc.
Kansas City is in Missouri. (There is a Kansas City in Kansas, too, but Amazon should come to the real original beautiful diverse Kansas City.)
Whoever assigned an "extremely low" "walkability score" to Kansas City should come for a visit and a walk. Maybe around the Plaza. Maybe along Ward Parkway. Maybe around the Nelson. Maybe on the West Side. Maybe up 39th Street. Maybe on the East Side. Maybe take a run along the old Country Club streetcar line to Brookside. Etc.
Denver. Denver is a young, progressive and business oriented city. It has an excellent airport and is well connected via the interstate highway system.
2
Colorado has no chance. They have state taxes. Look for Texas or Florida with a cheap work force and a history of giving out sweetheart deals to companies.
Denver should be in the running.
Negatives are the airport being so far away. And UC-Boulder is good but not great university.
Negatives are the airport being so far away. And UC-Boulder is good but not great university.
By the way, taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society. Here is why Denver will be the choice. It is a city that will attract younger, highly educated and motivated people with the beautiful mountains providing great recreational opportunities and civilized city with great cultural offerings and a city that supports the arts. Most young techies and smart cookies have their choice of where to live and if it doesn't involve the mountains or the sea forget it. The south is too hot and too racist for most people, the Midwest is too boring and the east coast is well...the east coast. It will be Denver. Put your money on it.
5
Here in Austin we are ready. Come on and visit Jeff! You and your team will love it here. Low taxes. Good housing. Great educational systems around the city. Home to 250,000 college students within 100 miles (an hour by TX driving standards), enormous software and marketing talent already here.
The only downside is the Ledge and the Governor... but hey we are working on that!
The only downside is the Ledge and the Governor... but hey we are working on that!
26
San Antonio or Austin would be great choices, unless you want to split the difference and select New Braunfels or San Marcos. It would be the best of all worlds.
Failing that, I like the idea of a renaissance (and 2nd chance) for Detroit!
Failing that, I like the idea of a renaissance (and 2nd chance) for Detroit!
Wow, what a way to completely obliterate any vestige of Austin being a nice place. Did you just recently move there, PhilO, and think it was still nice?
Low taxes??? No, not true. And Forbes just named Austin as the second-most overpriced housing market in the nation.
St. Louis.
1) Centrally located. Easy access from everywhere.
2) Needs help/gentrification/diversity.
3) Cheap living for employees.
4) Lots of history.
5) Good medical care a good university. (Barnes Jewish and Washington U.)
1) Centrally located. Easy access from everywhere.
2) Needs help/gentrification/diversity.
3) Cheap living for employees.
4) Lots of history.
5) Good medical care a good university. (Barnes Jewish and Washington U.)
22
If St. Louis every stops shooting itself in the foot, and merges with the County, I'd agree. Until then, I don't see it.
1
Public transportation not very good. Limited airport flights. But killer for St Louis is no major university.
1
Washington University?
3
Philadelphia
31
Couldn't agree more. The Philadelphia 20135 plan along with the Schuylkill Yards project are starting the transition but bring in a large company with a dynamic culture, like Amazon, and it would rocket forward!
22
I agree as well. Philadelphia has many benefits for a company looking to expand like this: 1) relatively cheap real estate compared to many large North American cities (such as NYC, LA, SF or Toronto), 2) proximity to a number of universities and colleges which provides access to an educated workforce, 3) is well served by trains and transit including being just over an hour by train from NYC and about two hours from DC), and 4) space near to the center of town whether in Center City (North Broad, maybe) or University City (Schuylkill Yards as an example) or even further afield in the Navy Yard or Kensington.
1
Philadelphia is strong locational choice. Mass transit access within the city and exurbs as well easy access to NYC and Wash DC. International airport is 20 min drive from the city & connected by mass transit. More than 10 major universities, nationally recognized hospitals and medical facilities. Lively arts, culture, museums, street festivals, music and restaurant scene. Ethically, racially, religiously, identity diverse and politically liberal. Active neighborhood and civic groups. Kid friendly activities, dog parks and bike lanes. Largest public part in the States. Four seasons with no extreme weather. Driving distance to the beach and skiing. And...given all the amenities, the housing stock and cost of living in the region are extraordinarily affordable. (And Amazon has a presence in Harrisburg area already.)
1
Come to Atlanta (or its close-in suburbs of the Perimeter/Dunwoody/Sandy Springs, Smyrna, etc.)!
2
Atlanta could be in the running. The big negative for Atlanta is that public transportation and walkability are not great except in Decatur.
Airport is great. Crime is a big problem. But mostly the problem for Atlanta is that 99% of the population gets around by car. That is antithetical to Amazon culture.
Airport is great. Crime is a big problem. But mostly the problem for Atlanta is that 99% of the population gets around by car. That is antithetical to Amazon culture.
1
Perhaps Amazon can provide each employee with a solo copter so they can get to work.
5
E Flair:
Atlanta has a subway system.
Atlanta has a subway system.
1
Amazon should place its new HQ store in a city that is the complete antithesis of Seattle. Like Chicago, a city of the big shoulders. Ethnically diverse with one of the least racially segregated cities in the U.S. Pick a city that is low on the income disparity scale. One with vast experience in professional and collegiate sports. A good choice: far from the left coast. Pick a city not crowded to the gills with humanity's overflow. Where? The city of the three rivers: PITTSBURGH.
Good chattin' with yinz. See: Yinzer.
Good chattin' with yinz. See: Yinzer.
48
Carnegie Mellon is a rock star university for sure.
Pittsburgh is an interesting candidate. Would be better if there were more flight connections.
The negative will be that international workers will view Pittsburgh as unattractively located in Trump Country.
Pittsburgh is an interesting candidate. Would be better if there were more flight connections.
The negative will be that international workers will view Pittsburgh as unattractively located in Trump Country.
2
I am a big fan of my hometown Chicago, and it has a number of great benefits that should put it out front in the running, but let's be realistic. Chicago is very racially segregated unless things have changed drastically in the last year.
Central Connecticut. Easy access to NY and Boston. A quick flight to DC. Good universities and mostly good to excellent local schools.
Also, I believe there is a pretty good supply of programmers among the local population. Comfortable life style too.
Also, I believe there is a pretty good supply of programmers among the local population. Comfortable life style too.
65
Which airport in Central Connecticut has direct flights to Seattle? No city win population of 1 million either.
1
The market would address that quickly...they have added flights from Hartford to LA, Scotland and San Fran in the last few months...if there was a need for flights they would add them. When United Health established a big presence in Hartford, there were flights to Minn. established very quickly
You know how some people want to be sure they like the grocery store experience before they move somewhere? For companies, and their traveling execs, it's often the airport experience. Bradley offers a top rated experience for travelers AND its TSA staff are both knowledgeable and cordial.
Boston's got the talent pool, university ecosystem(s), and social values, but I suspect the cost of living is too high and the airport and traffic situation are too congested. I'm going with Northern Virginia or Atlanta.
7
Traffic in N. Virginia and Atlanta can be even worse than Boston or NY.
Detroit -- do the right thing, Amazon.
Detroit -- do the right thing, Amazon.
1
folks! It needs to be near major trains and airports for delivery and shipping.
So Buffalo is definitely out. Plus no one wants to live there (sorry!)
Outskirts of Philly would make sense transportation wise.
Maryland. Pricey, unless Amazon got major deals from the state.
Detroit. Cheap and tons of potential, but another place that no one wants to live there. Urban decay and deeply corrupt govt. I'd love to see Amazon take the chance but they wont.
NYC wayyyy to expensive square footage, even in the outer boroughs.
Texas makes tons of sense if Amazon doesnt care about maximizing East Coast presence.
So Buffalo is definitely out. Plus no one wants to live there (sorry!)
Outskirts of Philly would make sense transportation wise.
Maryland. Pricey, unless Amazon got major deals from the state.
Detroit. Cheap and tons of potential, but another place that no one wants to live there. Urban decay and deeply corrupt govt. I'd love to see Amazon take the chance but they wont.
NYC wayyyy to expensive square footage, even in the outer boroughs.
Texas makes tons of sense if Amazon doesnt care about maximizing East Coast presence.
1
The California Central Valley has cities that meet the criteria: Access to major universities, moderate weather, affordable housing... and a friendly political climate to support a diverse-international workforce. A city like Sacramento puts Amazon employees within two-hours of skiing, trout streams, and the Ocean.
Further, young women that work at Amazon - if located in a 'red' state lose access to Planned Parenthood. Based on the stats I've heard on the number of women that use the services of Planned Parenthood - I wonder if that's a big deal?
Further, young women that work at Amazon - if located in a 'red' state lose access to Planned Parenthood. Based on the stats I've heard on the number of women that use the services of Planned Parenthood - I wonder if that's a big deal?
1
Too much snow in Buffalo. Lousy NHL team. Though, a very fine college bb school is there.
1
"needs to be near major trains and airports for delivery and shipping"
I think you misunderstand the purpose of an HQ. This isn't a shipping center ... Amazon already has shipping centers located outside a plenty of major US cities for quick transportation of its goods.
I think you misunderstand the purpose of an HQ. This isn't a shipping center ... Amazon already has shipping centers located outside a plenty of major US cities for quick transportation of its goods.
3
Go with the underdog Detroit, Michigan. Lots of available land that is affordable. It's close to some of the largest, and best Universities in the United States. Ypsilanti Township, has the American Center for Mobility (ACM) that will be the largest testing ground for Autonomous Vehicles, and all things connected. Michigan is home to innovation, and some of the best outdoor beauty and recreation in the World.
177
This! Cheap real estate, supply chains and transportation infrastructure already in place, lots of qualified workers (both blue-collar and white-collar), and although it gets the occasional blizzard/polar vortex/weak tornado, there's no major weather disruptions like hurricanes or earthquakes.
15
What an opportunity to bring Detroit back from the ashes
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Not a bad idea, but I think you missed "a location that was able to attract and retain workers". Detroit will actively repel the kind of highly educated workers that Amazon hires for HQ jobs.
1
The Denver Tech Center (10 miles south of downtown on the recently expanded I-25, on the light rail line, with many bicycle paths, near a huge modern mall and shopping, and a very large residential area, and about 35 minutes from the Denver airport (and fifteen minutes from the Chatfield reservoir recreation area, and 20 minutes from where I-70 heads up into the mountains from the foothills, would be a perfect place for the second headquarters. Colorado and the Denver area would be a great place to raise a family. Denver is a wonderful place to live with a business friendly government. Employment is booming and why the city already isn't as big as Chicago is a good question (smile).
13
Oh gods, please, no ...
3
Too much air pollution. See: coal-fired power plants. Plus, I25 traffic snarls.
No water. Horrible traffic.
Buffalo
11
YES! Game changer for the region.
1
We can only hope.
I'm betting on Philly.
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Too Rizzo, Goode (Wilson), Rendell, and Hillary. Worst team in baseball. Good try, though.
Austin,Texas. Whole Foods has their HQ there already.
Should be fun to watch. My guess is that the finalists will be the Dallas/Fort Worth area, Chicago, Maryland/Virginia and the New York metro area.. And the winner is.....Maryland/Virginia.
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They said Borth American. Why so US centric in your thinking?
Because there's only one city outside the U.S. they could reasonably consider - Toronto - and I'm not sure Amazon wants to deal with work visa headaches.i
Austin must feel pretty good about its chances given the recent purchase of Whole Foods.
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Given the weather problems in Texas, blizzards in the Northeast, hurricanes in the Southeast, fires in Southern CA.... Kansas is looking like a good bet!
4
Whole Foods is headquartered in Austin, Texas.
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Austin does not have a true international airport, nor a convenient public transportation system, and it has a real traffic problem for a small metro area. To bypass the traffic though, North Austin could be considered. It does have more affordable housing compared to west/east coast, but DFW and Houston would still be cheaper. Business wise, I imagine all of the major TX cities would be pretty friendly and their is no income taxes for the employees. Another disadvantage IMO, is that Austin does not have the external environment (outdoor, diversity, and cultural activities) that Seattle has. But it will be interesting to see where Amazon goes!
A lot of chatter around the "water cooler" at the Seattle offices today.
5
Austin or Cleveland. help Cleveland Clinic continue to revitalize the mid corridor. Ohio State and Case churning out great talent.
All these posts about how Amazon should choose some city to help that city widely miss the point. Amazon isn't doing public works with this move, they're not looking to take on a charity case. They're looking for a city that will help Amazon. The smart cities know that, and also know just how to help Amazon while also helping themselves. Casting a city as a charity case is the wrong move.
I do agree Cleveland could be an interesting dark horse - it fits most of the bill better than a lot of people realize. Many Americans don't even realize Cleveland has heavy rail transit that even goes to the airport, for example.
I do agree Cleveland could be an interesting dark horse - it fits most of the bill better than a lot of people realize. Many Americans don't even realize Cleveland has heavy rail transit that even goes to the airport, for example.