Amazon is looking for a second HQ. Why not, Pittsburgh? (Indiana: layoffs, transit)

[_Buster]

Originally Posted by gg

As much fun as it was to dream, lets face it Pittsburgh has no chance. If Amazon was okay with growing a city and with that would be they would have some power that would work, but they seem to want everything in place right now. Probably Boston or some other bigger city that can just have what they need right away. I think we are dead in this since they haven't even looked at Pittsburgh. It was nice to see us included though.

Well the same thing has been said about 500 times in this thread, and I think many times by you, why keep repeating it? Boston does not have everything they need - they don't have reasonable salaries, or housing costs, and it would probably be tough to keep employees in a competetive market like that, especially with Amazon's bad reputation as a workplace.

[acenturi]

I vaguely recall from somewhere that the plan was for another "cut" to around 5 finalists and those 5 would be given the opportunity to present/negotiate a very detailed "Best and Final" offer/plan/bribe. If I were Amazon, I'd do just that to refute the common perception that DC or Boston were always the choices and the horse race is just a huge cover up.

[gg]

Originally Posted by _Buster

Well the same thing has been said about 500 times in this thread, and I think many times by you, why keep repeating it? Boston does not have everything they need - they don't have reasonable salaries, or housing costs, and it would probably be tough to keep employees in a competetive market like that, especially with Amazon's bad reputation as a workplace.

Actually I have flipped flopped back and forth on this matter quite a bit.

Hope they come here as it would be great for our nice city, but I sort of doubt it. Rightfully so. We just don't have the airport and infrastructure in place for them.

[_Buster]

Originally Posted by gg

Actually I have flipped flopped back and forth on this matter quite a bit.

Hope they come here as it would be great for our nice city, but I sort of doubt it. Rightfully so. We just don't have the airport and infrastructure in place for them.

Yeah I hear ya. But I actually think Pittsburgh would be a better fit for them than Boston or DC. to me, Atlanta , Philly and Chicago are more likely. But I don't think the airport is as big a deal as others. Really are there many people besides top executives who routinely fly around for meetings anymore? it just isn't necessary in the digital age, even if they listed it.

[gg]

Originally Posted by _Buster

Yeah I hear ya. But I actually think Pittsburgh would be a better fit for them than Boston or DC. to me, Atlanta , Philly and Chicago are more likely. But I don't think the airport is as big a deal as others. Really are there many people besides top executives who routinely fly around for meetings anymore? it just isn't necessary in the digital age, even if they listed it.

I also feel Pittsburgh is the best fit. Much less expensive, an airport that can grow to fit needs and plenty of room to grow around here. The big cities are so much more money for the employees as well. People can still buy homes here for a reasonable price compared to DC and Boston. Not sure about Atlanta though, but that airport is already the busiest in the USA, which IMHO isn't a bonus if you are Amazon.

Still it just seems we are being overlooked.

[MisterBrightside]

While this discussion comparing the walkability of Pittsburgh's suburbs to those of New Jersey and other areas is academically interesting, why would it possibly matter in terms of whether Amazon comes to Pittsburgh? Amazon is going to pick the city based on economics and talent base and logistics, not whether Sewickley is as "nice" as Haddonfield or Upper Montclair.

[tyovan4]

Originally Posted by gg

plenty of room to grow around here.

The infrastructure here can't support the massive growth that Amazon would bring.

Parkway North is a mess. Rialto St is closed. Heading North is a headache.
Route 30 is messed up. Heading East is a headache.
Liberty Bridge is still a cluster storm of utter crap. Heading South is a headache.

Public transit is a joke, unless you live along the Busway (in the East End Centre of the Universe), or near a T station in the South Hills.

Pittsburgh is always going to be a middling, medium-sized city. The infrastructure and topography here make anything else impossible.

[PghYinzer]

Originally Posted by tyovan4

The infrastructure here can't support the massive growth that Amazon would bring.

Parkway North is a mess. Rialto St is closed. Heading North is a headache.
Route 30 is messed up. Heading East is a headache.
Liberty Bridge is still a cluster storm of utter crap. Heading South is a headache.

Public transit is a joke, unless you live along the Busway (in the East End Centre of the Universe), or near a T station in the South Hills.

Pittsburgh is always going to be a middling, medium-sized city. The infrastructure and topography here make anything else impossible.

There clearly isn’t construction anywhere else in the world, or even traffic for that matter.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by PghYinzer

There clearly isn’t construction anywhere else in the world, or even traffic for that matter.

tyovan4 isn’t wrong...so why would Amazon choose an area with all of these issues when they don’t have to?

[tyovan4]

Originally Posted by PghYinzer

There clearly isn’t construction anywhere else in the world, or even traffic for that matter.

There isn't anywhere else in the world with as many bridges (traffic funnels/chokepoints) - not even Venice, Italy.

Tell me anywhere else Amazon is considering that has had homes taken out by landslides (whose homeowners aren't protected by insurance), who has a major highway taken out by a landslide, and who has its other major highways or bridges under construction. All at the same time.

Tell me.