Amazon HQ2 - Austin Chances ??? (Post: house prices, prices, marketplace)

[CelestinoZ]

Originally Posted by rangergrit

Wouldn't Dallas qualify?

I think Dallas has a good chance of being considered. The DFW metro area has over 7 million people, we have an international airport that has direct flights to cities like Washington D.C., and Seattle. I know this is a consideration of Amazon, although Austin has an international airport it doesn't provide direct connections to a lot of cities, to get to places like D.C. or Seattle from Austin you have to make 2-3 connections. The Austin metro does have about 2 million people, so the Austin metro area easily meets the 1 million people requirement, but if they plan on hiring 50,000 that means they'll have to hire 1 out of every 40 people. I think Amazon will end up locating HQ2 in a metro area with a population similar or larger that Seattle. The other issue in Austin is with MetroRail, the last northbound route is at 6:30, and the last southbound route is at about 5:20, for people who work these times don't work out. Also, Metro Rail service on Saturday doesn't start until 4:45pm, people who need to work on Saturday morning won't be able to. Dallas has issues in that once you get to your rail station, you need your car to get places, or you have to use a bus; it isn't very walkable.

So yes while Dallas does qualify, and while I would really like them to move to Dallas, I think they will choose another city which meets all their requirements; I don't see Amazon wanting to make any compromises. I would like to see them buy the Northlake College Campus in Irving, TX. This community college campus is located on 276 acres, has direct access to DART light rail, it is only two stops away from the airport station, and it has fiber optic internet. It would be an ideal location, but I don't see DCCCD selling that campus.

[eirenecat]

Personally, I would love it if Amazon came here. I work in tech and it means more potential jobs for me and also a bigger potential pool of talent to hire. I actually turned down a job from Amazon (would have been at their office in the Domain) when I went to work at my current company and I believe they would help increase the average salary here in tech, as they generally pay at the higher end of the scale. I don't think we meet their needs in terms of transit, but there would be some appeal in being close to the Whole Foods mothership.

[squatt3r]

more options for tech workers

[psu2pgh]

Originally Posted by CelestinoZ

II know this is a consideration of Amazon, although Austin has an international airport it doesn't provide direct connections to a lot of cities, to get to places like D.C. or Seattle from Austin you have to make 2-3 connections.

I realize your point that Austin is not a hub for any airline but this is purely false. There are directly flights to both Seattle and DC. There are many other direct flights on various airlinese as well, otherwise it is 1 connection via Dallas or Houston which add typically and 1.5 hr to total flight time since its a quick fly and many flights per day.

FWIW- I've traveled significantly for my job and Austin is probably my favorite airports in the country to fly in and out. Super easy to get in and out of, not far from city center, plenty of parking, not too crowded, half decent food etc..

[Aquitaine]

to get to places like D.C. or Seattle from Austin you have to make 2-3 connections.

Yeah, I don't know if you haven't flown lately or what, but while we're limited a little on the int'l side we have tons of nonstop domestic routes.

[ashbeeigh]

If y'all don't think "hubs" are important look at San Antonio maybe 15 years ago when they were the headquarters of Southwest but lost Southwest to Dallas due its "hub" status. It's a big deal and one that I think would be a big negative. They're working on direct flights at SAT but it's never going to be a "hub" like Houston, Dallas or Atlanta are.

[centralaustinite]

Originally Posted by Aquitaine

Yeah, I don't know if you haven't flown lately or what, but while we're limited a little on the int'l side we have tons of nonstop domestic routes.

TONS of nonstop flights out of ABIA!

Three different airlines fly nonstops to Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, NYC (3 airlines into JFK, two different airlines into Newark), San Diego, SFO, SJ, and yes, three different airlines fly nonstop from Austin to Seattle.

Here is a complete list!
Nonstop Flights Out of Austin | Austin-Bergstrom International Airport | ABIA | AustinTexas.gov

[Trainwreck20]

I think that while options for non-stops are important, total volume is not so much anymore. A LOT more work is being done remotely and the number of reasons for people to travel for work has decreased significantly over the years and may continue to decline.

In any case, I don't see Austin or SA ever becoming a hub like Dallas or Houston for no other reason than the existing proximity to those hubs. The only way I see it happening would be if air travel increases to the point that Houston/Dallas cannot handle the volume, and I don't see that happening any time soon.

[Novacek]

People act like Austin (hypothetically) getting the Amazon HQ wouldn't lead to _new_ direct flights to Seattle, etc.


Airlines aren't (that) stupid.

We have a sufficiently large airport/runways/capacity. Flights will follow demand, not prevent that demand.

[Mimmyu]

Originally Posted by CelestinoZ

I think Dallas has a good chance of being considered. The DFW metro area has over 7 million people, we have an international airport that has direct flights to cities like Washington D.C., and Seattle. I know this is a consideration of Amazon, although Austin has an international airport it doesn't provide direct connections to a lot of cities, to get to places like D.C. or Seattle from Austin you have to make 2-3 connections. The Austin metro does have about 2 million people, so the Austin metro area easily meets the 1 million people requirement, but if they plan on hiring 50,000 that means they'll have to hire 1 out of every 40 people. I think Amazon will end up locating HQ2 in a metro area with a population similar or larger that Seattle. The other issue in Austin is with MetroRail, the last northbound route is at 6:30, and the last southbound route is at about 5:20, for people who work these times don't work out. Also, Metro Rail service on Saturday doesn't start until 4:45pm, people who need to work on Saturday morning won't be able to. Dallas has issues in that once you get to your rail station, you need your car to get places, or you have to use a bus; it isn't very walkable.

So yes while Dallas does qualify, and while I would really like them to move to Dallas, I think they will choose another city which meets all their requirements; I don't see Amazon wanting to make any compromises. I would like to see them buy the Northlake College Campus in Irving, TX. This community college campus is located on 276 acres, has direct access to DART light rail, it is only two stops away from the airport station, and it has fiber optic internet. It would be an ideal location, but I don't see DCCCD selling that campus.

Rail service isn't a strict criteria. It can be any mode of public transit, and it's not as if CapMetro hasn't had company-specific feeders in the past.