Amazon is looking for a second HQ. Why not, Pittsburgh? (Philadelphia: slums, activities)

[mufc1878]

Originally Posted by Paul2421

the original rfp doesn't list walkability as a requirement. as noted below:


In choosing the location for HQ2, Amazon has a preference for:
 Metropolitan areas with more than one million people
 A stable and business-friendly environment
 Urban or suburban locations with the potential to attract and retain strong technical talent
 Communities that think big and creatively when considering locations and real estate options
HQ2 could be, but does not have to be:
 An urban or downtown campus
 A similar layout to Amazon’s Seattle campus
 A development-prepped site. We want to encourage states/provinces and communities to think
creatively for viable real estate options, while not negatively affecting our preferred timeline

A recent conversation with Amazon real estate chief John Schoettler suggests the company's HQ2 site may be urban.

Schoettler sited and built the Seattle headquarters in South Lake Union and downtown and has been by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos' side as they built their high-rise towers.

Bezos told Schoettler the South Lake Union site had “soul” when he saw it.

Schoettler said he enjoys the built environment, a preference reflected in his decision to build an urban campus in the formerly industrial neighborhood.

Schoettler declined to discuss the HQ2 project with me, but several of the proposed sites in and around downtown Boston exemplify the qualities Schoettler and Bezos saw in Seattle.

"They want to be in these certain kinds of places that have culture, art, density, housing and small businesses," former Seattle City Planner Marshall Foster said about Amazon. "They really invest in a kind of quality of place."

Other cities on the Amazon’s list of 20 finalists that pitched urban campuses include Chicago, New York City and Philadelphia. Suburban campuses include Dallas and Austin. Other cities like Denver and Atlanta submitted a mix of urban and suburban options.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

^That is the kind of story that makes it pretty upsetting Buncher wouldn’t play ball.

[JoeP]

Amazon is adding 125 people to its office on the Southside.

[chao]

Originally Posted by JoeP

Amazon is adding 125 people to its office on the Southside.

unfortunately...

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said Tuesday that Amazon's expansion at SouthSide Works has nothing to do with the HQ2 process.

“This is more looking specifically at how Amazon can take on a bigger presence locally to help out one part of their operations, not their overall,” Peduto said.

[JoeP]

Of course it doesn't. It's an expansion of an existing office.

[Enough_Already]

https://www.theguardian.com/technolo...ts-second-home

[Enough_Already]

https://www.wsj.com/articles/in-thei...nds-1521115200

[Goinback2011]

From the above Guardian link:

“Right now in Pittsburgh, we’re losing three black people every day from the city to the surrounding area,” said Carl Redwood, a community organizer and professor of social work at the University of Pittsburgh. “Amazon coming won’t change that trend. It will accelerate the trend.”

“My view is that they should keep on walking,” he added. “Don’t come to Pittsburgh. Amazon is not welcome here.”

[gg]

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

From the above Guardian link:

“Right now in Pittsburgh, we’re losing three black people every day from the city to the surrounding area,” said Carl Redwood, a community organizer and professor of social work at the University of Pittsburgh. “Amazon coming won’t change that trend. It will accelerate the trend.”

“My view is that they should keep on walking,” he added. “Don’t come to Pittsburgh. Amazon is not welcome here.”

I wonder why this idiot is so anti growth? Sure sounds like a privileged type not wanting jobs in our region, but many college types are like that living in their little bubbles. Also, why is everything about race!? I mean EVERYTHING! Goodness.

[PghYinzer]

Originally Posted by gg

I wonder why this idiot is so anti growth? Sure sounds like a privileged type not wanting jobs in our region, but many college types are like that living in their little bubbles. Also, why is everything about race!? I mean EVERYTHING! Goodness.

Well in this case it is about race because it is black people that are moving out of the city not white people, but perhaps that is due to income variables that also cut along racial lines.


Somethings need to be looked at thru a racial lens and it is entirely possible to do that and not get all caught up in the distractions that come along with these types of discussions.


What looks like anti-growth to you may be anti-displacement to him.