PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread IX

[mcgrath618]

Originally Posted by Milksteak

Boston most definitely fits all of the criteria and I would say is one of our biggest competitors (keep in mind the land mass of Boston is small, so the city proper doesn't have over a million people, but the immediate metro certainly does).

This is a massive opportunity for Philly, imagine the possibilities...

They specified a population of over 1,000,000. I think Boston only has 600k last time I checked.

[ScreamShatter]

I think Philly actually has a really great case to make and if we give them the right tax benefits, we will definitely be in the mix. This would radically impact Philly if we lucked up and got it.

All that said, there are plenty of other cities in the US who have proven to be great at attracting businesses (cough cough...Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Austin, Denver, etc).

Let's hope our city leaders do what is needed to land this.

[ScreamShatter]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

They specified a population of over 1,000,000. I think Boston only has 600k last time I checked.

Depends on how they define city. They could be referring to metro size. Let's hope it truly is "city" and that would make Philly super competitive.

[tsarstruck]

Originally Posted by mcgrath618

They specified a population of over 1,000,000. I think Boston only has 600k last time I checked.

I can't imagine they were concerned about any city's arbitrary boundaries. Boston and its adjacent cities effectively work as one.

[Boku]

Originally Posted by ScreamShatter

Depends on how they define city. They could be referring to metro size. Let's hope it truly is "city" and that would make Philly super competitive.

"Metropolitan areas with more than one million people"

[iheartphilly]

Originally Posted by Boku

"Metropolitan areas with more than one million people"

I read Northern Virginia was in the running. So, they would consider metropolitan area as in the D.C. Metro Area.

[ePlanningPhila]

You better believe Brandywine is jumping in their toes and is courting every civic leader they know to make this a reality right now. Project name has been changed from. Schuylkill Yards. To. Amazon Yards. I really see Amazon leaning towards an urban location. It just seems to be a core philosophy of the company, especially in regards to attracting talent. Bezos wants a statement, and suburbia, just doesn't do it, when making a proposal. Especially in terms of transit access to capital and knowledge markets. The fact Schuylkill Yards is right on top of the 2nd busiest transit station in the nation. Come on. Lets do this!

[Nova08]

The article was funny by calling out that Amazon has added a large number of local jobs at the newly opened distribution centers. I'm sure there are some others outside of those distribution centers, but ~80% of the jobs in the distribution centers are vastly different than the jobs they would bring in as part of a HQ

[Milksteak]

Originally Posted by iheartphilly

I read Northern Virginia was in the running. So, they would be consider metropolitan area as in the D.C. Metro Area.

Yeah, the advantage we have over the DC metro is that it is so government centric and expensive. It could certainly accommodate Amazon, but I truly think we have a leg up.

I'm not starting an argument here, but if you could tell me when you cross the line from Boston over to Cambridge, Brookline, Somerville, etc. I would be very impressed...they are practically one in the same. The land mass of Boston is tiny, but the population of the metro area is almost 5 million.

[Arch+Eng]

I want amazon here. Someone with connects send this to Brandywine or Liberty Property trust immediately.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/Anything/test/images/usa/RFP_3._V516043504_.pdf

[McBane]

First let me say, I would LOVE for Amazon to come to Philly. But everyone seems to be a little too optimistic here. Did you read the criteria?

“stable and business-friendly environment”, be “urban or suburban locations with the potential to attract and retain strong technical talent,” and “communities that think big and creatively

You all are saying Philly checks all the boxes? Are we talking about the same Philadelphia here? Not to be negative but our politicians are narrow-minded idiots and our taxes and regulations fly in the face of "business-friendly".

[Boku]

The city has a lot going for it. Brandywine has done a lot of the development legwork already with Schuylkill Yards, and SY is neighbors with some of the best R&D universities and hospitals in the country. Its position between and easy access to New York and D.C. is ideal. I believe Pa. houses the most Amazon fulfillment warehouses in the country, so the company is familiar with the state's business climate. Philly's recent success and competency in hosting large events has put it in the national spotlight. I could go on, but we all know what's what.

Really the only negative with the city is the wage tax. But Seattle and Washington have their own share of "unfriendly" business taxes---see http://www.seattlebusinessmag.com/article/infamous-bo-tax---and other agendas, such as the $15 minimum wage. I agree with others who said that city council would probably bend over backwards to get Amazon here.

This is huge and should be a priority for the city and Brandywine.

[ePlanningPhila]

Combine Schuylkill Yards with the 30th Street Master Plan... and I don't know how Bezo's couldnt be more excited. He gets his own imprint smack in the middle of some of the best Universities in the world and some of the best transit access in the nation. All the legwork between the 2 projects, is like a shining silver platter waiting to be delivered. Pennsylvania is not totally inept when it comes to attracting business. Yes, the state can do a much better job, but Comcast would not be making the billions of investments in the state, if there was not a pro business climate. Massachusetts and New York really do not fair that much better in relation to business friendly policies. They prosper because of their capital and talent pools.

[Jsiegel]

Originally Posted by tsarstruck

I can't imagine they were concerned about any city's arbitrary boundaries. Boston and its adjacent cities effectively work as one.

All of the articles explicitly say "city" not metro area and the Times notes only a handful of cities meet that criteria, which would not be the case if it meant metro areas.

So let's hope they strictly mean cities, or else Philly will have a lot more competition out there, despite its very strong offering.

[ScreamShatter]

Originally Posted by Jsiegel

All of the articles explicitly say "city" not metro area and the Times notes only a handful of cities meet that criteria, which would not be the case if it meant metro areas.

So let's hope they strictly mean cities, or else Philly will have a lot more competition out there, despite its very strong offering.

The RFP on Amazon's site says "metropolitan area" of 1m+....not city.

Anyone who thinks Austin, San Antonio, Atlanta, Charlotte, Kansas City, etc aren't in the running are mislead. Philly has advantages over them....we just need to be strong about positioning ourselves.

[Nova08]

The RFP provides a break down of the location and size specifics:

Within 30 miles of population center
Within 45 minutes of an international airport
1-2 miles from major highways
Mass transit on site

500,000 sq ft. requested by 2019
8,000,000 Total sq ft by 2027

And going further on priority for consideration:

1.) Existing buildings of at least 500,000+ sq. ft., meeting the core requirements described
above and that are expandable or have additional options for development nearby.
2. A greenfield site of approximately 100 acres certified or pad ready, with utility infrastructure
in place. The sites do not have to be contiguous, but should be in proximity to each other to
foster a sense of place and be pedestrian-friendly.
3. Other infill, existing buildings, including opportunities for renovation/redevelopment and
greenfield sites, meeting the proximity and logistics requirements of the Project. This can
also be a combination of the above.

[Jsiegel]

Originally Posted by ScreamShatter

The RFP on Amazon's site says "metropolitan area" of 1m+....not city.

Anyone who thinks Austin, San Antonio, Atlanta, Charlotte, Kansas City, etc aren't in the running are mislead. Philly has advantages over them....we just need to be strong about positioning ourselves.

Well that's an onion in the ointment. I think Philly's asset that no other city has is its proximity to DC and NY, with significantly lower prices.

I'd be shocked if they chose NY, but I could see a more central city like Chicago or Austin getting picked and sadly I think Boston is most likely to give us a run for our money-they already have two smaller Amazon offices in the area.

It'd be smart for city and state leaders to wrangle in Comcast to cheerlead for us. That's an incredible asset that few other cities have and Schuylkill Yards has the potential to be unbeatable. At the end of the day, it's going to be whatever packages a city can offer though.

[City Wide]

I think the area north of 30th St. Station might appeal to Amazon if they are looking to build a 'campus' and not just a office tower. That area has room to build whatever they want presently and still have room to grow. Plus, what better, more noticeable spot for a trophy building or two.

I wonder if the argument could be made to give, free of land costs, the development rights for building over the active tracks (its not like that area 'costs' Amtrak anything!) in exchange for the idea that a large complex of buildings is going to increase train travel, which Amtrak certain does care about. This might offset the addition building costs related to building at that area, and be a jump start for development.

What are other cities offering?

[Skintreesnail]

Within 30 miles of population center
Yes for Schuylkill Yards or Navy Yard
Within 45 minutes of an international airport
Yes for Schuylkill Yards or Navy Yard
1-2 miles from major highways
Yes for Schuylkill Yards or Navy Yard
Mass transit on site
Yes for Schuylkill Yards, but kind of lacking for Navy Yard. Has the 17 bus.

500,000 sq ft. requested by 2019
Seems possible for both Schuylkill Yards or Navy Yard?
8,000,000 Total sq ft by 2027
Schuylkill Yards site says 7m sq ft, but then there's the 30th street station master plan.


1.) Existing buildings of at least 500,000+ sq. ft., meeting the core requirements described
above and that are expandable or have additional options for development nearby.
Yes for Schuylkill Yards

2. A greenfield site of approximately 100 acres certified or pad ready, with utility infrastructure
in place. The sites do not have to be contiguous, but should be in proximity to each other to
foster a sense of place and be pedestrian-friendly.
Anyone know how to interpret this? I think Schuylkill Yards + 30th street ends up being 100 acres.

3. Other infill, existing buildings, including opportunities for renovation/redevelopment and
greenfield sites, meeting the proximity and logistics requirements of the Project. This can
also be a combination of the above.
Yes

[Nova08]

Originally Posted by Skintreesnail

2. A greenfield site of approximately 100 acres certified or pad ready, with utility infrastructure
in place. The sites do not have to be contiguous, but should be in proximity to each other to
foster a sense of place and be pedestrian-friendly.
Anyone know how to interpret this? I think Schuylkill Yards + 30th street ends up being 100 acres.

My thought is that SY is more or less pad ready. Buildings need to be razed but the infrastructure is there. However, over at the 30th Master Plan there is still substantial infrastructure required to build over a busy railroad artery before you even get off the "new" ground level.