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NOVA and especially Tysons/ Silver Line corridor (an existing specifically TECH corridor) is the best positioned fit for the total requirements by the RFP in the Eastern US, period. No urban/ suburban combination in the country compares for a project like this. Cities like Chicago and Philly win on urbanity but that's mainly it. I don't think Amazon is tied into being in a super urban or more urban place than Seattle. This is a corporate headquarters not a distribution center, so being in the center of the country isn't necessarily brownie points, and the multi billion dollar Silver Line Metro was literally created specifically for housing mega sized HQ projects like this, and soon will connect to and beyond Dulles International Airport. Tyson's is already 12th largest business district in the US and probably the country's largest "edge city" by sf of office space. This company essentially wants an urban "campus", which is exactly what Tysons and the other towns along the SL already do, while connecting directly to Metro and Dulles.
The money is there, the education/ universities, airports, and proximity to power etc. For those who don't know, this Silver Line corridor is really already the "tech hub" of the East Coast. (and probably Raleigh-Durham also)
With that said I still feel like HQ2 may be put in a smaller/ medium size market, my previous prediction of Charlotte I'm going to completely scrap. If they don't care about going East maybe Austin or Denver, if they try East maybe Raleigh.
I feel like some scare tactic will be used to drive Amazon away from the Beltway as only for optics, but would not bother me anyway to see a smaller area get the prize.
I voted for Chicago but I could easily see it being the Washington, DC area, especially since Bezos just bought a house there and owns the Washington Post.
Location: Pittsburgh (via Chicago, via Pittsburgh)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kidphilly
potentially the 30th street area and rail capping in Philly
More than 9 Million of development opportunity. On top of 30th street rail station with 22 regional rail lines, Amtrak, subways, underground light rail, at the intersection of I76, and I676, 1.5 miles from I95. Next to Drexel and Penn
also a sanctuary city and already designated as a Keystone subsidy zone
This is a nice opportunity for development, but the only difference I note is that the Post Office is actively being renovated as we speak and will be finished by 2019. Chicago also has a lot of land (North Branch River Corridor/Goose Island, huge Union Station redevelopment) that is actively being pursued for development, with no shovels in the ground yet.
This is a nice opportunity for development, but the only difference I note is that the Post Office is actively being renovated as we speak.
Schuylkill yards is started, about to start the larger phase (doing prep work now)
The capping can be expedited with a suitor and would easily fit in the expanded timeline The RFP states phases and build out all walkable, plus anything of this scale obviously fast forwards the money and the Schuylkill yards component could handle 3+ potentially 4 Million sq feet with zero capping required. (Already has two super talls as part of the current proposal capping and the yards)
a few of the buildings in the renderings I posted are already up
not saying anything more then this area would fit a lot of the criteria and potentially the best transit location in the country with the space for development they inquired about
Honestly I would love to see my hometown get this but if not an rooting for one of the following Philly, Chicago, Detroit, or Baltimore (I think Pittsburgh may be too small but another option I could get behind)
just pointing out there are other shovel ready areas
Honestly I would love to see my hometown get this but if not an rooting for one of the following Philly, Chicago, Detroit, or Baltimore (I think Pittsburgh may be too small but another option I could get behind)
Location: Pittsburgh (via Chicago, via Pittsburgh)
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I would also root for places like Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philly, etc. over somewhere like Houston or Atlanta. I view Chicago's old post office as a potential new Merchandise Mart, but for one company. The Merchandise Mart has become a very tech heavy building, and these large old converted buildings seem to fit the style of what these kind of companies want in regards to office space.
Chicago's Old Post Office has over 2 million square feet, is currently being renovated, literally sits on top of a highway, is very close to Chicago's CTA network and Union Station, and has room for expansion. I can't think of a better spot in the U.S. that fits their criteria.
That does sound like something that would appeal to the Amazon mindset.
I would also root for places like Chicago, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philly, etc. over somewhere like Houston or Atlanta. I view Chicago's old post office as a potential new Merchandise Mart, but for one company. The Merchandise Mart has become a very tech heavy building, and these large old converted buildings seem to fit the style of what these kind of companies want in regards to office space.
Yeah Cleveland would be another I could get behind
and by no means am saying Chicago does not have a compelling offering for space etc. Just that am not sure its the only one that fits a lot of the criteria and would argue the potential expansion between the yards and capping may offer more continuous development and expansion space
plus the CTIC is about to open with 1M plus sq feet dedicated to technology for Comcast a few blocks away not to mention all going in U City itself already right next to Center City and on top very good public transit and two huge universities with even more just a little further away
One last thought, Amazon is positioning itself for Healthcare and healthcare delivery. The area from Philly to NYC is still the center of the Pharma world (biotech is still only 30% of Pharma remember and not lacking in Philly to begin with) so a helathcar3e focused aspect of Amazon would make more sense in Philly than Chicago to begin with (not Chicago lacks Pharma/healthcare)
This is a nice opportunity for development, but the only difference I note is that the Post Office is actively being renovated as we speak and will be finished by 2019. Chicago also has a lot of land (North Branch River Corridor/Goose Island, huge Union Station redevelopment) that is actively being pursued for development, with no shovels in the ground yet.
the first phases of the SY development will also be complete by 2019/early 2020 (and something of this scale obviously expedites the timelines if awarded)
NOVA and especially Tysons/ Silver Line corridor (an existing specifically TECH corridor) is the best positioned fit for the total requirements by the RFP in the Eastern US, period. No urban/ suburban combination in the country compares for a project like this. Cities like Chicago and Philly win on urbanity but that's mainly it. I don't think Amazon is tied into being in a super urban or more urban place than Seattle. This is a corporate headquarters not a distribution center, so being in the center of the country isn't necessarily brownie points, and the multi billion dollar Silver Line Metro was literally created specifically for housing mega sized HQ projects like this, and soon will connect to and beyond Dulles International Airport. Tyson's is already 12th largest business district in the US and probably the country's largest "edge city" by sf of office space. This company essentially wants an urban "campus", which is exactly what Tysons and the other towns along the SL already do, while connecting directly to Metro and Dulles.
The money is there, the education/ universities, airports, and proximity to power etc. For those who don't know, this Silver Line corridor is really already the "tech hub" of the East Coast. (and probably Raleigh-Durham also)
With that said I still feel like HQ2 may be put in a smaller/ medium size market, my previous prediction of Charlotte I'm going to completely scrap. If they don't care about going East maybe Austin or Denver, if they try East maybe Raleigh.
I feel like some scare tactic will be used to drive Amazon away from the Beltway as only for optics, but would not bother me anyway to see a smaller area get the prize.
If Amazon prefers a campus that isn't spread across downtown DC and would like a greenfield development in DC, Poplar Point would be perfect for them. It would have water access park space and be 10 minutes from the airport with its own metro station.
Location: That star on your map in the middle of the East Coast, DMV
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MDAllstar
If Amazon prefers a campus that isn't spread across downtown DC and would like a greenfield development in DC, Poplar Point would be perfect for them. It would have water access park space and be 10 minutes from the airport with its own metro station.
This would be great, but with regards to cost and being able to provide 8 million sf of office space in Poplar Point alone? Do we have enough space?
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