Does Fairfax County want new Amazon HQ2 for Tysons? (Richmond: real estate, home)

[paytonc]

Not to disagree too much, but the RFP does indicate a mild preference for a "similar layout to Seattle campus."

To reiterate, this project has an astonishingly short time frame: they want up to a million square feet ready in 2019. Compare this to the TSA headquarters move, where the decision was just announced, the buildings are designed, the owner has credit, the construction docs are being done... and those offices will open in mid-2020. There is just not enough time to develop a plan from scratch that requires rezoning anywhere in this region -- maybe you could do that timeframe in Texas, but not here.

That timeline is also why other ideas I've seen out there just won't work. Potomac Yard can't be built out until the Metro station opens and the big-box leases expire, which is the 2020s. Buzzard Point is mostly slated for residential and doesn't even have bus service; Pepco has an active 58-acre facility at Benning Road (which is contaminated with PCBs). Arlington's existing Ballston sector plan says that the area is built-out for office, but can add more residential.

If Amazon does demand new construction, JBG has two options in Arlington that could be ready for Phase 1. These are one-half mile from one another:
A. PenPlace has 10 acres of empty land, behind the Whole Foods in Pentagon City, with an approved site plan for 2 MSF.
B. Site plans have been filed to redevelop two Crystal City office buildings (1900 Crystal and 223 23rd) as 1.35 MSF of new office and 350 apartments, in addition to the conversion of 1770 Crystal to apartments. (Perhaps an earlier plan to renovate 1770 Crystal as 250 KSF of office could be resurrected.)

Option A has more new space up front but less long-term expansion, Option B has less up-front but more options later.

[the resident09]

Smart or stupid for Fairfax/Loudoun to pitch CIT site at Dulles for Amazon over Tysons?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.5001f376ccb0

Unless they've got some major incentives up their sleeves, I think this is Fairfax's own way of saying we don't want it that bad, but if you're gonna choose us your going to conform to the suburban campus with nearby rail option.

[NOVA_guy]

Originally Posted by the resident09

Smart or stupid for Fairfax/Loudoun to pitch CIT site at Dulles for Amazon over Tysons?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.5001f376ccb0

Unless they've got some major incentives up their sleeves, I think this is Fairfax's own way of saying we don't want it that bad, but if you're gonna choose us your going to conform to the suburban campus with nearby rail option.

Yeah, agreed.

I was surprised when I read this. I like Dulles but it's too far out and is typical upper class suburbia, not a bad thing but I think for HQ2 they're looking for something less cookie cutter and more walkable and lively - DC, Arlington or Tysons would be a far better choice.

[Deeman804]

Originally Posted by the resident09

Smart or stupid for Fairfax/Loudoun to pitch CIT site at Dulles for Amazon over Tysons?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.5001f376ccb0

Unless they've got some major incentives up their sleeves, I think this is Fairfax's own way of saying we don't want it that bad, but if you're gonna choose us your going to conform to the suburban campus with nearby rail option.

I get it that they are trying to make sure that they meet all of the requirements including the 100 acres that is often overlooked. I think this proposal lacks in the charge to “think big” and “creatively”. This sorely lacks compared to Tysons in those areas.

[Fallout Zone]

Seems like a white flag to me. Maryland is probably a better bet.

[kevinm]

Originally Posted by destinedtodave

I certainly have mixed feelings about this and read a NYT piece on their horrible boiler room working environment, about a year ago.

However, under no circumstances will they go to Richmond or Ohio. DC, Boston, and Denver are the strongest candidates IMO. Amazon isn't solely motivated by low wages, or else they would move their existing HQ in Seattle to Dayton. They need a large metro area with a large pool of educated tech workers and their rfp specifies public transit. Where in Ohio provides this?

Indian tech workers can come to Ohio just as easily as they can come to Virginia. You don't think these jobs will be going to Americans do you?

[Ffxdata]

Fairfax County Times is reportinf a joint bid with Fairfax and Loudoun going in together proposing the Innovative Technology site.

[lchoro]

Originally Posted by Ffxdata

Fairfax County Times is reportinf a joint bid with Fairfax and Loudoun going in together proposing the Innovative Technology site.

There is a lot happening adjacent to the site affecting several hundred acres.

1. The Hub, formerly known as Dulles World Center
2. Waterside new town, formerly the Loudoun Rock Quarry
3. Dulles Station and Dulles Corner high-rise projects on the opposite side of the metro station

[LuvVA]

Originally Posted by the resident09

Smart or stupid for Fairfax/Loudoun to pitch CIT site at Dulles for Amazon over Tysons?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.5001f376ccb0

Unless they've got some major incentives up their sleeves, I think this is Fairfax's own way of saying we don't want it that bad, but if you're gonna choose us your going to conform to the suburban campus with nearby rail option.

I think this will be good. Think about technology workers travelling to DC,MD, Arlington/Tysons from Ashburn/Leesburg/Chantilly/South Riding/Aldie etc.

If this HQ2 comes to Dulles, it would benefit lot of these people. In turn would ease the traffic too.

But a drawback would be that lot more people from other parts of the country will move to already over populated NoVA.

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by LuvVA

I think this will be good. Think about technology workers travelling to DC,MD, Arlington/Tysons from Ashburn/Leesburg/Chantilly/South Riding/Aldie etc.

If this HQ2 comes to Dulles, it would benefit lot of these people. In turn would ease the traffic too.

But a drawback would be that lot more people from other parts of the country will move to already over populated NoVA.

What?

You do understand that Ashburn/Leesburg/Chantilly etc is not where Amazon will be pulling the majority of their employees from right? They will be coming from DC / Arlington / Maryland, and yes some from Fairfax. Putting it all the way out in Dulles, is going to make it far less likely for people to take metro to it because many will have to go from one end of the line to the other end of the line. This will increase traffic. It would have been better to put it in Tysons/Arlington/DC or Silver Spring/Bethesda. That or remove it from the area all together and put it in Richmond or Baltimore.