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In Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, LA, Montgomery Cty, Newark, NYC, Northern VA, Philly, Pittsburgh, Toronto, and DC, Amazon workers can either live downtown and walk to work, or commute directly to the office on some form of rail service.
The Pittsburgh infrastructure couldn't handle an additional 10,000 people downtown. The public transit is poor and traffic is getting worse each day. Contrary to what the media broadcasts, Pittsburgh has the worst public transit system in the Northeast. The only way Amazon is moving to Pittsburgh is if they rent a small office downtown and relocate everyone else out by the airport.
Interesting that you exclude Atlanta, but include Newark & Pittsburgh. Smacks of anti-Southern bias big time, in my opinion. Atlanta blows both out of the water, including proximity to NYC taken into consideration for Newark.
Pittsburgh, I'll concede, is not one of the best cities for public transit in the country. But it's far from the worst. The bones are there for an urban city with good transit corridors. As I've said numerous times, though, I don't see Amazon moving to ANY Southern city because of the state-level governments' politics. Amazon is FAR too liberal to more or less subject its workers to such conservative state governments. And I truly hate to say that, because locations like Atlanta and Dallas would be amazing choices for Amazon. However, the state governments are so conservative that I don't find it reasonable for such a liberal company to move to such a state.
Atlanta as a city itself may nearly blow Pittsburgh out of the water, yes, but I honestly think Newark is by far the most underrated city on this list. Newark's proximity to NYC kinda has everything to do with it. As I've stated numerous times, Newark's public transit connections are very good. Not the best on the list, but very good. Its own Penn Station, PATH 24/7 connection to most of Manhattan, NJT trains and buses to most of the state, and Amtrak for the entire Northeast. Some of the best suburbs in the country just a short drive or train ride are to the west of the city. To the east of Newark, you have Manhattan within very easy commuting distance for the ubranites, and Hoboken and Jersey City if people want to stay in NJ. Newark itself is doing very well with lots of construction of businesses and residences downtown. It's not the best city, no, but it's very underrated on this list. As a city itself, Atlanta is the better option. All things considered, including state government politics, Newark stands a better chance IMO.
Pittsburgh, I'll concede, is not one of the best cities for public transit in the country. But it's far from the worst. The bones are there for an urban city with good transit corridors. As I've said numerous times, though, I don't see Amazon moving to ANY Southern city because of the state-level governments' politics. Amazon is FAR too liberal to more or less subject its workers to such conservative state governments. And I truly hate to say that, because locations like Atlanta and Dallas would be amazing choices for Amazon. However, the state governments are so conservative that I don't find it reasonable for such a liberal company to move to such a state.
Atlanta as a city itself may nearly blow Pittsburgh out of the water, yes, but I honestly think Newark is by far the most underrated city on this list. Newark's proximity to NYC kinda has everything to do with it. As I've stated numerous times, Newark's public transit connections are very good. Not the best on the list, but very good. Its own Penn Station, PATH 24/7 connection to most of Manhattan, NJT trains and buses to most of the state, and Amtrak for the entire Northeast. Some of the best suburbs in the country just a short drive or train ride are to the west of the city. To the east of Newark, you have Manhattan within very easy commuting distance for the ubranites, and Hoboken and Jersey City if people want to stay in NJ. Newark itself is doing very well with lots of construction of businesses and residences downtown. It's not the best city, no, but it's very underrated on this list. As a city itself, Atlanta is the better option. All things considered, including state government politics, Newark stands a better chance IMO.
The way they are extorting money from states and this whole process tells me they don’t care about their workers as much as you think.
Pittsburgh, I'll concede, is not one of the best cities for public transit in the country. But it's far from the worst. The bones are there for an urban city with good transit corridors. As I've said numerous times, though, I don't see Amazon moving to ANY Southern city because of the state-level governments' politics. Amazon is FAR too liberal to more or less subject its workers to such conservative state governments. And I truly hate to say that, because locations like Atlanta and Dallas would be amazing choices for Amazon. However, the state governments are so conservative that I don't find it reasonable for such a liberal company to move to such a state.
Atlanta as a city itself may nearly blow Pittsburgh out of the water, yes, but I honestly think Newark is by far the most underrated city on this list. Newark's proximity to NYC kinda has everything to do with it. As I've stated numerous times, Newark's public transit connections are very good. Not the best on the list, but very good. Its own Penn Station, PATH 24/7 connection to most of Manhattan, NJT trains and buses to most of the state, and Amtrak for the entire Northeast. Some of the best suburbs in the country just a short drive or train ride are to the west of the city. To the east of Newark, you have Manhattan within very easy commuting distance for the ubranites, and Hoboken and Jersey City if people want to stay in NJ. Newark itself is doing very well with lots of construction of businesses and residences downtown. It's not the best city, no, but it's very underrated on this list. As a city itself, Atlanta is the better option. All things considered, including state government politics, Newark stands a better chance IMO.
No, I would not go that far. I have been to both cities... spent time in both cities... I liked Atlanta, but I actually preferred Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is an underrated jewel in my opinion. The negative on Atlanta is it is a "country" city in many respects, with little shacks scattered about here and there... the city itself is spread out like a suburb - not urban at all... the downtown lacks vigor and vitality... mass transit has improved but still has a ways to go... there is still quite a bit of red neck racism in and surrounding Atlanta... gets hotter than hell in Atlanta... on the positive side... cost of living is relatively low... mass transit is improving... great airport... it is coming up... it has the room to build. Pittsburgh... more beautiful - loved the elevation changes with huge hills/quasi mountains throughout/surrounded by water and bridges - the beauty of Pittsburgh is very underrated - pictures don't do it justice... Pittsburgh is more established... stronger urban core... room to build... closer to many East Coast destinations than Atlanta... Pittsburgh has greater "culture" with many things to do... I just enjoyed myself more there... negatives - airport and mass transit all need a makeover/upgrades... all the other negatives have been exhausted here in this forum... does that mean Atlanta nearly blows Pittsburgh out? No, not at all... I can see reasons why Amazon would select Atlanta and I can also see reasons why Amazon would select Pittsburgh. Having spent time in both cities, I can also see why Amazon would choose Pittsburgh over Atlanta.
Last edited by UnionStreet911; 06-06-2018 at 10:27 AM..
The Pittsburgh infrastructure couldn't handle an additional 10,000 people downtown. The public transit is poor and traffic is getting worse each day. Contrary to what the media broadcasts, Pittsburgh has the worst public transit system in the Northeast. The only way Amazon is moving to Pittsburgh is if they rent a small office downtown and relocate everyone else out by the airport.
During the Astros World Series Parade, the crowd was estimated at 750,000. Apparently 250,000 either gave up or got stuck trying to get transportation to Downtown Houston. Since it was Friday, the Park & Ride buses were supposed to be running but, obviously, all buses in the area were rerouted. Sadly, most people either drove and parked Downtown or drove to the light rail stations, parked and took the rail.
Chicago's Loop and Near North Side (Magnificent Mile) can handle the 1,000,000 office workers who commute everyday, mostly on Metra's commuter trains. Some of the candidate cities (wish Houston was still on the short list) should examine Chicago's Downtown transit system.
The only way Amazon is moving to Pittsburgh is if they rent a small office downtown and relocate everyone else out by the airport.
Or, they could build on that giant tract of flat, developable land three miles up the Monongahela River from downtown Pittsburgh that has easy access to the following:
1. An Interstate highway interchange
2. The Great Allegheny Passage and Junction Hollow Trail
3. The 56, 57 and 93 bus lines that connect Hazelwood to downtown Pittsburgh, the universities, and some of the more desirable neighborhoods in the East End
4. A partially-used rail right of way via Panther Hollow and Junction Hollow that can be upgraded with a two-mile-long light rail line to serve Hazelwood and the universities
Or maybe even in the Strip District, where there's still plenty of flat, developable land just a mile or two up the Allegheny River from downtown Pittsburgh that has access to the following:
1. A growing cluster of new residential construction that didn't used to be there
2. The Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway, which is a limited-access express bus route between downtown Pittsburgh and some of the more desirable neighborhoods in the East End
3. The 54, 86, 87, 88 and 91 bus lines that connect the Strip District to other desirable neighborhoods in the East End and on the North Side and South Side
4. A currently unused rail right of way that can be refurbished to serve neighborhoods along the Allegheny River via light rail
But yeah, out by the airport, I guess.
At least you're right about Amazon only being able to rent a small space downtown -- because Class A office vacancy is less than 8%.
Last edited by JMT; 06-07-2018 at 03:15 PM..
Reason: language
Columbus is putting on hold a potential $500 million development waiting on Amazon's decision. The development of the Scioto Peninsula, right on the river and directly across from Downtown, has a general plan, but nothing specific has been set in stone yet. Apparently, this is one of the sites that Columbus has offered them, but it's a bit silly to me for them to be waiting on this decision. Columbus is a great city and all, but it doesn't seem to be on anyone's list of likely winners for this project. Do they know something we don't or is this all wishing and hoping on their part?
The location would be fantastic for Amazon, for sure, though. The Peninsula already has COSI and the still-under-construction National Veterans Memorial, as well as a brand new central park and the recently rebuilt Scioto Greenways and Scioto Mile parks, with direct connections to virtually the entire city's bike trail system.
No, I would not go that far. I have been to both cities... spent time in both cities... I liked Atlanta, but I actually preferred Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is an underrated jewel in my opinion. The negative on Atlanta is it is a "country" city in many respects, with little shacks scattered about here and there... the city itself is spread out like a suburb - not urban at all... the downtown lacks vigor and vitality... mass transit has improved but still has a ways to go... there is still quite a bit of red neck racism in and surrounding Atlanta... gets hotter than hell in Atlanta... on the positive side... cost of living is relatively low... mass transit is improving... great airport... it is coming up... it has the room to build. Pittsburgh... more beautiful - loved the elevation changes with huge hills/quasi mountains throughout/surrounded by water and bridges - the beauty of Pittsburgh is very underrated - pictures don't do it justice... Pittsburgh is more established... stronger urban core... room to build... closer to many East Coast destinations than Atlanta... Pittsburgh has greater "culture" with many things to do... I just enjoyed myself more there... negatives - airport and mass transit all need a makeover/upgrades... all the other negatives have been exhausted here in this forum... does that mean Atlanta nearly blows Pittsburgh out? No, not at all... I can see reasons why Amazon would select Atlanta and I can also see reasons why Amazon would select Pittsburgh. Having spent time in both cities, I can also see why Amazon would choose Pittsburgh over Atlanta.
No. Pittsburgh is what you get when you throw a few buildings in West Virginia, Atlanta attracts people from all over the world, growing rapidly. Definitely a better brand than Pittsburgh.
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No. Pittsburgh is what you get when you throw a few buildings in West Virginia, Atlanta attracts people from all over the world, growing rapidly. Definitely a better brand than Pittsburgh.
I stopped reading when I read this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by UnionStreet911
The negative on Atlanta is it is a "country" city in many respects, with little shacks scattered about here and there... the city itself is spread out like a suburb - not urban at all... the downtown lacks vigor and vitality... mass transit has improved but still has a ways to go... there is still quite a bit of red neck racism in and surrounding Atlanta... gets hotter than hell in Atlanta...
Spoken like someone from Atlanta. Get out of your bubble and travel. Atlanta has come a long ways and you rightly have a lot to be proud of... but believe me, as someone who travels for work and lives in New York... Atlanta still has a long ways to go.
Dose of reality - Atlanta is a "country city".
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Get out of your bubble and travel. Atlanta has come a long ways and you rightly have a lot to be proud of... but believe me, as someone who travels for work and lives in New York... Atlanta still has a long ways to go. 
