Amazon HQ2 - Austin Chances ??? (Houston, Dallas: transplants, price, vs.)

[rangergrit]

Originally Posted by Austinite76

I agree that Texas politics in this case are going to come back to bite any TX city.

Only if "virtue signalling" overrules economic reality.

[atxcio]

I think DFW would have a better chance than Austin, although I do expect Austin to be one of the top 5 or so prospects. The DFW metro just caters to every need of a Fortune 500 company. Plus, if Amazon was really interested in Austin they'd already be here, like Apple/Google/Intel etc. I'm not counting the distribution center in San Marcos.

I don't think it will be anyplace like Boston or DC... The talent is there, but it's expensive to hire. I don't think it will be in the Midwest, it's not a culture fit (especially not right now).

My dark horse candidate is Houston. Think of the goodwill Amazon would generate selecting H-Town -- not to mention 180 billion in federal funds coming their way. It's a city which is very friendly for H1-B workers, and I'm sure Amazon uses a lot of those. Plus, Jeff Bezos is into space (Blue Origin) and Houston is space city.

[madrone2k]

The main reason I think that Houston is an unlikely choice -- at least, right now -- is frequent storm events. Companies do not like having to shut down operations even for 1 week due to such events, even if they are only every 10 years or so.

[Trainwreck20]

Originally Posted by madrone2k

The main reason I think that Houston is an unlikely choice -- at least, right now -- is frequent storm events. Companies do not like having to shut down operations even for 1 week due to such events, even if they are only every 10 years or so.

Many of the companies in Houston are ones that do depend on imports/exports and need a major seaport and/or airport. Tech companies (such as semiconductor) are more adverse to the potential for hurricanes. I think companies that do not produce anything are somewhere in the middle - there are no delicate fabs to worry about, but still is somewhat of a disruption.

[Aquitaine]

Too tough to build in DC and Boston. The Northeast will never catch up there without some significant changes. Too unfriendly to business. I wish it weren't true but there's a reason that folks leave Boston and Maryland and even the 'big offices' in NYC are satellite offices, at least in the tech world.

Nashville or TN in general could make an interesting competitor.

[centralaustinite]

I think Toronto is the dark horse! Sidesteps the H1 visa issue, Canada is really pushing tech. Probably the most robust incentives, separate electrical grid, gives some geographic balance, close to all the east coast tech talent . . .

[ScoPro]

Originally Posted by Mimmyu

If quick access to the airport is a criteria, then that means somewhere along 130.

I've got 25 acres close to the F1 race track they can take off my hands for a few million.


















Or not.

[austinnerd]

Originally Posted by atxcio

Plus, if Amazon was really interested in Austin they'd already be here, like Apple/Google/Intel etc. I'm not counting the distribution center in San Marcos.

Amazon has 350+ at their Domain offices (lots of AWS developers).

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by atxcio

Plus, if Amazon was really interested in Austin they'd already be here, like Apple/Google/Intel etc. I'm not counting the distribution center in San Marcos.

Uh, they already are. They have offices in the Domain. Development, not just sales.

Amazon opens new corporate office in Austin | KXAN.com

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...ns-second.html

[Aquitaine]

separate electrical grid,

Texas also has its own electric grid.