Does Fairfax County want new Amazon HQ2 for Tysons? (Richmond: hotel, house)

[destinedtodave]

I've read that DC, Arlington, and even Loudoun County are going to bid for the spot but can't find anything from Fairfax.

Not saying they can get it, but landing it in a place like Tysons would really strengthen plans to turn it into a real city. It already has metro access, a ton of office space, and the office market is weak.

Would you want it here? There would be a significant impact on both congestion and property values.

[NC211]

When you read the requirements for the bid proposal from Amazon (google it, you'll find it), Loudoun and Fairfax are spot-on for every single key request. Especially the international airport (Dulles), space, and deep tech-savy local talent pool. Add in the fact that Bezos himself recently bought one the biggest homes in all of DC earlier this year, setting up shop with the Washington Post, and has quietly made some land deals of old Washington Post distributions centers around the city already, one could argue that he's setting up shop in general in the DMV MSA. Loudoun is a great fit specifically, given the untold amount of development potential, heavy data center locations that are ever increasing and enhancing digital communication capacity throughout, and the old AOL HQ influence already here. Other wish-list item is public transportation infrastructure (hello Silver Line). Everything Amazon is asking for, is so easily here in the DC region, I can't see it being anywhere else to be honest.

I have a sneaking suspicion this whole bid process is more of a ploy to motivate VA or MD to roll out the red carpet on tax incentives. My gut just tells me that Bezos already knows where he wants it...

[Hal Roach]

The same company that went to court to avoid laying employees while they were required to be screened for theft? They are all about low wages, and they have had to pay for most of their growth, including this computer (paid for Amazon CC application). Richmond would make more sense, but Ohio would beat both. Fry's Electronics moved their fulfilment center to OH. The Kalorama house was more like a yacht purchase, and I doubt he wanted to use the new Trump Hotel. Smart man, highly successful, good place to save money shopping, but when you have seen first hand how they really operate, you won't be so enthusiastic. AOL? Bwahahaha.

[NOVA_guy]

A lot of cities have put their names in the hat but I think it'll truly come down to: Austin, Dallas, DC/Nothern VA, NY/NJ, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago and Denver.

I saw somewhere that VA Beach is thinking about applying but smaller metro areas won't be able to offer the same tax incentives as larger metro areas. Also places like Boston, Denver and DC have a higher educated workforce which was one of the prerequisites. It'll be interesting to see who they choose.

[destinedtodave]

Originally Posted by Hal Roach

The same company that went to court to avoid laying employees while they were required to be screened for theft? They are all about low wages, and they have had to pay for most of their growth, including this computer (paid for Amazon CC application). Richmond would make more sense, but Ohio would beat both. Fry's Electronics moved their fulfilment center to OH. The Kalorama house was more like a yacht purchase, and I doubt he wanted to use the new Trump Hotel. Smart man, highly successful, good place to save money shopping, but when you have seen first hand how they really operate, you won't be so enthusiastic. AOL? Bwahahaha.

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?

[destinedtodave]

Originally Posted by NC211

When you read the requirements for the bid proposal from Amazon (google it, you'll find it), Loudoun and Fairfax are spot-on for every single key request. Especially the international airport (Dulles), space, and deep tech-savy local talent pool. Add in the fact that Bezos himself recently bought one the biggest homes in all of DC earlier this year, setting up shop with the Washington Post, and has quietly made some land deals of old Washington Post distributions centers around the city already, one could argue that he's setting up shop in general in the DMV MSA. Loudoun is a great fit specifically, given the untold amount of development potential, heavy data center locations that are ever increasing and enhancing digital communication capacity throughout, and the old AOL HQ influence already here. Other wish-list item is public transportation infrastructure (hello Silver Line). Everything Amazon is asking for, is so easily here in the DC region, I can't see it being anywhere else to be honest.

I have a sneaking suspicion this whole bid process is more of a ploy to motivate VA or MD to roll out the red carpet on tax incentives. My gut just tells me that Bezos already knows where he wants it...

I agree with most of your points, but think that Fairfax County should push for this to happen in Tysons. It's still not far from 2 airports and much closer to the district. However, clearly if it happens anywhere in NoVa, the whole region will be affected.

Did you read the NYT article on picking a city? They put DC area as 2nd, behind only Denver.

[Fallout Zone]

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?

Somewhat similar to Ohio, I've read about people talking up NC. However, and I don't mean to make this political, but I don't see Amazon going to a state that has enacted some of the conservative laws that NC has.

Honestly, I think that PG county might make sense. All the planning that went into the FBI HQ could be re-purposed. Still local to airport hubs, Metro, and has the added "bonus" of a cheaper location.

[LM117]

Originally Posted by NOVA_guy

I saw somewhere that VA Beach is thinking about applying but smaller metro areas won't be able to offer the same tax incentives as larger metro areas.

Plus the fact that transportation in Hampton Roads sucks. VA Beach doesn't stand a chance.

[LM117]

Originally Posted by Fallout Zone

Somewhat similar to Ohio, I've read about people talking up NC. However, and I don't mean to make this political, but I don't see Amazon going to a state that has enacted some of the conservative laws that NC has.

Yep. There's been quite a few saying that Research Triangle Park would be a good lure for Amazon.

The notorious HB2 law is no more and the governor responsible for HB2 was shown the door last year. I do see your point, though. The GOP still have veto-proof majorities in the NC General Assembly and has been stonewalling Gov. Roy Cooper at damn near turn, not the least of which include stripping his powers. They've been fighting in court ever since Cooper took offce.

The NCGOP also is very adverse to giving large incentives and what they do give is usually abysmal, so for that reason alone, NC has no chance.

[tysonsengineer]

Originally Posted by LM117

Yep. There's been quite a few saying that Research Triangle Park would be a good lure for Amazon.

The notorious HB2 law is no more and the governor responsible for HB2 was shown the door last year. I do see your point, though. The GOP still have veto-proof majorities in the NC General Assembly and has been stonewalling Gov. Roy Cooper at damn near turn, not the least of which include stripping his powers. They've been fighting in court ever since Cooper took offce.

The NCGOP also is very adverse to giving large incentives and what they do give is usually abysmal, so for that reason alone, NC has no chance.

Interesting little tidbit, the head of the Tysons BID used to be the head of the Raleigh BID which (along with others in Raleigh of course) turned that town around by becoming a hub for tech. In terms of attracting white whale tech companies, Tysons does have that going for it, as well as being able to actually build an 8 msf headquarters, something I have my doubts whether any other location meeting the requires could actually do (especially downtown DC)