Could the Denver metro be the home of the new Amazon HQ2? (Boulder: buying, cost)

[Indigo Cardinal]

Well, for those worried about the traffic.....


Colorado route selected for Hyperloop project | 9news.com

[MN_Ski]

Here is an interesting article about Denver:
https://www.denverite.com/amazon-500...-plains-42525/

“This an opportunity for Denver to invest in itself as opposed to investing in Amazon,” Segal said. “What could differentiate Denver from these other cities is not larding incentives at Amazon but actually use this to create a stronger sort of opportunity basis here in terms of affordable housing, education and transportation.”

If Amazon likes Denver as it is and wants to support an inclusive, diverse culture, the city will need to invest civic resources so neighborhoods aren’t changed as a result of Amazon coming, he said.

“When a company is going to invest $5 billion, they want to know the state’s investing in them as well, so we’re going to work within in the framework of our programs and offer what we can conservatively, as we always do,”

^ This was slightly reassuring. It's good to know that Denver isn't going to go out of their way to attract amazon. Let the cities that need Amazon do the "wooing". Denver, Austin, and Boston don't need Amazon, Amazon needs them.

[N610DL]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

Could be Denver, it gives them dominance in the Intermountain West.

I'd rule out Chicago for it's high taxes and corrupt government.

Indianapolis is much more tax friendly without high realty costs. Same for Memphis, Kansas City and St Louis.

Memphis gives them access to FEDEX main hub from which they could cram stuff into planes for orders placed late in the date or early evening. IBM has a large warehouse there just for the purpose of getting high priority items out the door as late as 10PM and in your hands by 10AM the next day.

Just east of St Louis there is the Mid-America airport, right next to Scott AFB in Belleville, IL. Though it is in IL, the area is mostly farmland out there and land should be cheap for a massive set of buildings and company town.

Cannot rule out that there will be more such HQs built, this may not be the last one.

What about Kansas City? Cheaper than Denver, more central, weather not horrible for Midwest standards.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by N610DL

What about Kansas City? Cheaper than Denver, more central, weather not horrible for Midwest standards.

I like KC, but.... politics may be an issue. Also no public transit and the airport, while easy, is not equipped to be a major hub.

[Coloradomom22]

Originally Posted by N610DL

What about Kansas City? Cheaper than Denver, more central, weather not horrible for Midwest standards.

One of Amazon's criteria was an urban or suburban area with the ability to attract and retain talent. In my opinion Kansas City isn't a place where young, educated professionals want to live. Its weather and amenities just aren't good enough to make it a place people would be eager to move.

[BornintheSprings]

Originally Posted by Coloradomom22

One of Amazon's criteria was an urban or suburban area with the ability to attract and retain talent. In my opinion Kansas City isn't a place where young, educated professionals want to live. Its weather and amenities just aren't good enough to make it a place people would be eager to move.

Its also to conservative large tech companies are going to pick liberal areas with highly educated populations.

[N610DL]

Originally Posted by Coloradomom22

One of Amazon's criteria was an urban or suburban area with the ability to attract and retain talent. In my opinion Kansas City isn't a place where young, educated professionals want to live. Its weather and amenities just aren't good enough to make it a place people would be eager to move.

There are a lot of KC people in Denver - apparently there is a young professional scene out there but probably very small compared to AUS, DEN, LA, etc. Good people though.

[mhays25]

While we're all guessing about what Amazon values, one guess is that someplace that's an "anti-Seattle" might make sense -- something that would attract mid-career people (due to price) and suburbanites and be very different from a lifestyle perspective. KC might fit that bill. On the other hand, 50,000 jobs and their multipliers might overwhelm it, requiring infrastructure changes and raising housing prices significantly.

It's not just about the multipliers...a company like Amazon will spawn spinoffs etc. that are led and staffed by former Amazonians. Other techs will move in to take advantage of the local talent. Techs thrive on the ability to switch jobs...a big part of the "infrastructure" people talk about.

[DenverBrian]

Originally Posted by mufc1878

yes, and what better way to influence the national converstaion and politics than not only owning the paper of record in town and one of the largest private sector employers.

Denver will be a finalist but make no mistake, DC/NOVA will be a very hard competitor.

Denver easily wins the cheap land, cheaper housing, less regulation portions of the contest. And I don't get a strong sense that Bezos is a political animal. His entire business model has proven that politics isn't really necessary in order to build a 21st Century megabusiness, once you understand how the Internet works.

[DenverBrian]

Originally Posted by MN_Ski

Here is an interesting article about Denver:
https://www.denverite.com/amazon-500...-plains-42525/



^ This was slightly reassuring. It's good to know that Denver isn't going to go out of their way to attract amazon. Let the cities that need Amazon do the "wooing". Denver, Austin, and Boston don't need Amazon, Amazon needs them.

This has always been a tenet of Denver's "wooing" of businesses to Colorado. "You want an incentive? Look to the west every single morning. Those are called the Rocky Mountains. There's your incentive."