Amazon is looking for a second HQ. Why not, Pittsburgh? (Philadelphia: friendly, metropolitan area)

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by BrassTacksGal

We don't want Amazon in Northern Virginia.

because its been OK for the thousands of others there with their carbon heavy lifestyles, but suddenly not so accepting?

[jay5835]

"You Are Jeff Bezos. Where Should HQ2 Go?"

You Are Jeff Bezos. Where Should HQ2 Go?

My Jeff Bezos chose Dallas, then Newark, then DC. Coincidentally, either Newark or the DC area is where I think Amazon HQ2 will locate.

[mufc1878]

Originally Posted by jay5835

"You Are Jeff Bezos. Where Should HQ2 Go?"

You Are Jeff Bezos. Where Should HQ2 Go?

My Jeff Bezos chose Dallas, then Newark, then DC. Coincidentally, either Newark or the DC area is where I think Amazon HQ2 will locate.

my bezos chose dc, nyc, toronto.

i agree with scott galloway from nyu that it's down to nyc metro vs dc metro area with philly and miami as dark horses.

I originally thought toronto would be the pick but I think jeff wants 2 more senators in his pocket so he'll keep it in the US and as each day passes i think philly will get this.

[Katarina Witt]

Montgomery County, Denver, Boston.

[mufc1878]

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

Montgomery County, Denver, Boston.

The location montco is offering isn't great.

If this was downtown bethesda, it would be different. i believe they are offering the area near the white flint metro which is outside of the beltway.

it isn't a walkable urban area which seems to be high on their list given what amzn real estate chief has said

[Katarina Witt]

^^Those were my results from the quiz. I'm not familiar with MontCo. Denver, no, the governor publicly said he doesn't really want Amazon. Boston? Maybe.

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by mufc1878

The location montco is offering isn't great.

If this was downtown bethesda, it would be different. i believe they are offering the area near the white flint metro which is outside of the beltway.

it isn't a walkable urban area which seems to be high on their list given what amzn real estate chief has said

Originally Posted by Katarina Witt

^^Those were my results from the quiz. I'm not familiar with MontCo.

It's Montgomery County, Maryland, right outside Washington, DC. The White Flint Metro is not what I considered walkable when I lived in DC, but "walkable" often means something different now. White Flint was an upscale shopping mall (RIP, 2015), mostly notable when it opened in 1977 because I Magnin and Bloomingdale's were two of its original anchors. The area near the mall, particularly Nicholson Lane, had some of the area's best Chinese (and later other Asian) restaurants. I haven't lived there in long enough to know if this is still the case.

[_Buster]

Originally Posted by jay5835

It's Montgomery County, Maryland, right outside Washington, DC. The White Flint Metro is not what I considered walkable when I lived in DC, but "walkable" often means something different now. White Flint was an upscale shopping mall (RIP, 2015), mostly notable when it opened in 1977 because I Magnin and Bloomingdale's were two of its original anchors. The area near the mall, particularly Nicholson Lane, had some of the area's best Chinese (and later other Asian) restaurants. I haven't lived there in long enough to know if this is still the case.

They wouldn't get their walkable urban environment there, and they'd be paying high salaries in that area, and employees who live in NoVa would have a bad commute. Another note is that while there would be rail to Reagan National airport and (eventually) Dulles, on the metro, both of those would require a train change and a pretty long train ride. I could maybe see them choosing Mont. Co for an office, but not the main second HQ office.

I think what they want to do with the main second HQ is over time, maybe 5-10 years, shift many of the positions from Seattle to a lower cost area with less competition for tech jobs, and while keeping the 'official' HQ in Seattle they would stabilize the bulk of the workforce in the chosen new HQ.

[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

[krogerDisco]

Regardless, Amazon is expanding.

Amazon expansion on South Side to add 125 jobs | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette