Amazon HQ2 thread

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by themaguffin

This thread is a great example of how echo chambers works - a lot of lists pushed of which - none - zero have any true insight, only speculation...

and coupled with too many chamber of commerce ads.

Still, nearly 80 pages on. Still.

And even crazier, for a "competition" that likely doesn't even exist.

I would bet big money there will never be an HQ2. All these cities whoring themselves are getting epically trolled. They would sell their children for the "privilege" of hosting a morally questionable megacorp.

Amazon does this stuff all the time, BTW, just on a much smaller scale. They are infamous for lease negotiations in bad faith and the like. Their word is meaningless; they're just angling for the best deal.

[10023]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Nashville's metro isn't that much smaller than Austin's metro. I'd also throw Dallas, Charlotte, and Raleigh onto your "next out" list.

But Austin has a more established tech industry, and a much bigger university, which somewhat offsets that IMO. I also don't know which is growing faster, but Austin certainly feels like a place that could hit 3+ million quickly.

I would not add those other cities. Dallas is too different culturally, Charlotte and (especially) Raleigh are too small without Austin's or even Nashville's buzz.

But these are just my opinions, of course. We'll see.

[10023]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

I question any list that does not include at least one Canadian city as a top contender.

I know they said "North America", but Amazon would also need to be ready for some serious political blowback.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by 10023

I know they said "North America", but Amazon would also need to be ready for some serious political blowback.

Maybe, but I don't think they're too concerned about it. It just seems that many of these analyses are ignoring something that is explicit in their RFP. They didn't put that in there just for the hell of it. It was potentially a major clue to their purpose for even seeking a second location.

[dimondpark]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

I question any list that does not include at least one Canadian city as a top contender.

Our moron-in-chief would go on a twitter rampage if Amazon even thought about it.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by dimondpark

Our moron-in-chief would go on a twitter rampage if Amazon even thought about it.

Would be fun to see though. He becomes more and more unhinged daily it seems.

[dimondpark]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

Would be fun to see though. He becomes more and more unhinged daily it seems.

Like hourly.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

I don't get the hate (for the lack of a better term) being expressed over millennials. It defies logic.

For one, it would be in any company's best interest to locate to a city that is "overrun with millennials" if they want a sufficiently large enough labor pool to replace the baby boomers will be retiring en mass over the next 5-10 years.

Second, someone's going to have to be around pay for and use all of the infrastructure that was overbuilt (via urban sprawl) and the pension funds once the baby boomers are no longer contributing to the government's coffers in retirement. That means having plenty of people who are still in their prime working and baby-making years (I.E. millennials).

I'm not shitting on millennials, I am one myself and have made a lot of money off the trend of millenials moving to the city. What I am saying is that certain cities have been completely overwhelmed by this trend to the point where many of their traditional functions as a city are shutting down or being compromised.

[lrt's friend]

Canadian cities are not prepared to offer ridiculous incentives. Regardless of the outcome, Amazon will have significant operations in Canada based on the merit of conducting business in this country.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by lrt's friend

Canadian cities are not prepared to offer ridiculous incentives. Regardless of the outcome, Amazon will have significant operations in Canada based on the merit of conducting business in this country.

They don't have to. Their healthcare system is incentive enough.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

I'm not shitting on millennials, I am one myself and have made a lot of money off the trend of millenials moving to the city. What I am saying is that certain cities have been completely overwhelmed by this trend to the point where many of their traditional functions as a city are shutting down or being compromised.

While the situation you describe in some cities is unfortunate, I still don't understand why you're scapegoating the millennials for it (especially with you being a millennial yourself, which makes your comments even more absurd). As you know, the problem is a lot more complicated than you're making it out to be.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by 10023

But Austin has a more established tech industry, and a much bigger university, which somewhat offsets that IMO. I also don't know which is growing faster, but Austin certainly feels like a place that could hit 3+ million quickly.

I would not add those other cities. Dallas is too different culturally, Charlotte and (especially) Raleigh are too small without Austin's or even Nashville's buzz.

But these are just my opinions, of course. We'll see.

Nashville's growth rate is comparable to Austin's. The Nashville area also has multiple major universities, just like Austin.

Why not? Dallas is on most major lists, Charlotte's metro is larger than Austin's, and Raleigh's combined statistical area (which is what most people are thinking of when they think "research triangle", not the less extensive and smaller metro area that leaves out much of the population mass) is over 2 million and larger than Austin's metro.

[LouisVanDerWright]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

While the situation you describe in some cities is unfortunate, I still don't understand why you're scapegoating the millennials for it (especially with you being a millennial yourself, which makes your comments even more absurd). As you know, the problem is a lot more complicated than you're making it out to be.

Lol not scapegoating. Literally making a factual observation. Denver has seen a demographic wave of millenials pouring in, that is what is causing a run up in rents and rampant gentrification. It's just a fact. It also is a situation Amazon is already in in Seattle and one they are probably not trying to jump right into again

[10023]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

They don't have to. Their healthcare system is incentive enough.

Is it though?

If these are really $100K+ jobs, for the most part, wouldn't they be providing supplemental private health insurance anyway?

That's how it works here in the UK. Only 10-12% of the population has private insurance, usually employer-provided, but that includes the vast majority of (if not all) people earning six figures.

[10023]

Originally Posted by wwmiv

Nashville's growth rate is comparable to Austin's. The Nashville area also has multiple major universities, just like Austin.

Why not? Dallas is on most major lists, Charlotte's metro is larger than Austin's, and Raleigh's combined statistical area (which is what most people are thinking of when they think "research triangle", not the less extensive and smaller metro area that leaves out much of the population mass) is over 2 million and larger than Austin's metro.

Vanderbilt is nowhere near the size of UT. I'm not really concerned with community colleges or lower tier schools.

Dallas is on a lot of lists, including terrible ones like the WSJ's that take a right wing, nearly libertarian view of the world (low taxes are everything). Maybe that's all that concerns Amazon, but if they have a culture they want to maintain, then Dallas isn't very compatible with Seattle.

As for the NC cities, I just don't buy it. The only way I could see that happening is if, as someone here suggested, they want to maintain Seattle's preëminence as the main HQ, and choose somewhere that wouldn't overshadow it.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by 10023

Is it though?

If these are really $100K+ jobs, for the most part, wouldn't they be providing supplemental private health insurance anyway?

That's how it works here in the UK. Only 10-12% of the population has private insurance, usually employer-provided, but that includes the vast majority of (if not all) people earning six figures.

The Canadian members (who got sick and tired of the Chicago boosterism and left the thread long ago) can speak on the exact dollar figure in potential savings, but if Amazon was looking to reduce costs for health insurance, it definitely could be.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

Lol not scapegoating. Literally making a factual observation. Denver has seen a demographic wave of millenials pouring in, that is what is causing a run up in rents and rampant gentrification. It's just a fact. It also is a situation Amazon is already in in Seattle and one they are probably not trying to jump right into again

So again, the problem is a lot more complicated than you're making it out to be.

To place the blame on one generation (a generation *you* belong to) is not only intellectually dishonest, but is also insulting.

[MidTenn1]

Originally Posted by 10023

Vanderbilt is nowhere near the size of UT. I'm not really concerned with community colleges or lower tier schools.

Just for the record,

Nashville does not have one large overshadowing institution, but rather it has an impressive number of unique Colleges and Universities which should measure up to what any other City can offer with regard to aggregate enrollment, variety and diversity. The City offers (including MTSU, 34 miles away) two law schools, two medical schools, three engineering schools, two pharmacy schools and multiple business and MBA options. The major Universities total 55,000+ enrollment.

Larger Universities include:

Vanderbilt (11,834) – (Private National University; 14th ranked college in academics in the USA; Medical, Law, Engineering, MBA degrees; 800 pound gorilla in Nashville, South Eastern Conference; 2nd largest employer)
Tennessee State University (9,027) – (State, Historically Black College, University {HBCU}); Engineering, Business; Ohio Valley Conference)
Belmont (6,293) – (Private; 5th ranked Regional Southern) Law, Pharmacy, MBA; Ohio Valley Conference)
Lipscomb (4,018) – (Private, Church of Christ Affiliation, Engineering, Pharmacy)
Meharry (831) – (HBCU; Private; Medical, Dental School)
Fisk (700) – (HBCU; Private; Planning, Business, Sciences; National class art collection)
Middle Tennessee State (22,050) – (State; 34 miles from Nashville, Business, MBA, Engineering technology; C-USA Athletics)

There are several other smaller, four year schools, offering more variety of studies.

So dismissing Nashville's University stock as "lower tier" (Vanderbilt??, seriously??) is grossly incorrect and uninformed.

[cannedairspray]

Originally Posted by 10023

Is it though?

If these are really $100K+ jobs, for the most part, wouldn't they be providing supplemental private health insurance anyway?

That's how it works here in the UK. Only 10-12% of the population has private insurance, usually employer-provided, but that includes the vast majority of (if not all) people earning six figures.

Yes, most of yhe people who would be working at a second headquarters aren't the type that Canada's healthcare is particularly better for.

[IrishIllini]

Originally Posted by MidTenn1

Just for the record,

Nashville does not have one large overshadowing institution, but rather it has an impressive number of unique Colleges and Universities which should measure up to what any other City can offer with regard to aggregate enrollment, variety and diversity. The City offers (including MTSU, 34 miles away) two law schools, two medical schools, three engineering schools, two pharmacy schools and multiple business and MBA options. The major Universities total 55,000+ enrollment.

Larger Universities include:

Vanderbilt (11,834) – (Private National University; 14th ranked college in academics in the USA; Medical, Law, Engineering, MBA degrees; 800 pound gorilla in Nashville, South Eastern Conference; 2nd largest employer)
Tennessee State University (9,027) – (State, Historically Black College, University {HBCU}); Engineering, Business; Ohio Valley Conference)
Belmont (6,293) – (Private; 5th ranked Regional Southern) Law, Pharmacy, MBA; Ohio Valley Conference)
Lipscomb (4,018) – (Private, Church of Christ Affiliation, Engineering, Pharmacy)
Meharry (831) – (HBCU; Private; Medical, Dental School)
Fisk (700) – (HBCU; Private; Planning, Business, Sciences; National class art collection)
Middle Tennessee State (22,050) – (State; 34 miles from Nashville, Business, MBA, Engineering technology; C-USA Athletics)

There are several other smaller, four year schools, offering more variety of studies.

So dismissing Nashville's University stock as "lower tier" (Vanderbilt??, seriously??) is grossly incorrect and uninformed.

Vanderbilt is the only school you named with any real name recognition. I follow college sports. The only schools I can say with certainty I had heard of prior to your post are Vandy, Lipscomb, and Middle Tennessee. Vanderbily is a great school. I don't know much about Lipscomb. MTSU is not a good school.