Amazon HQ2 thread

[atlantaguy]

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

It’s not a “retirement community”; it’s principally a college town (U. of AZ) but it’s Tucson and it wouldn’t be a bad choice for Bezos though I’d hate it. The traffic is already pretty bad and the housing not especially cheap like it used to be although there’s plenty of land to build more.

That's actually Uptown Phoenix between Downtown and the Camelback Corridor.

[isaidso]

Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs partnering with the City of Toronto to build the first test 'high tech community' should give a big boost to Toronto's bid for the Amazon HQ2. The goal is to use the Toronto development as a global template that can be scaled up and replicated throughout Toronto's Portlands, across Canada, and eventually around the world.


Sidewalk Toronto Press Conference
Introductory Video @ 6:47
Sidewalk Labs CEO Dan Doctoroff @ 35:24
Alphabet Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt @ 40:15

• Video Link

[Jonesy55]

Originally Posted by LouisVanDerWright

That's great about not giving them more subsidies, but $1.24 billion is a half trillion dollars company, that is a tiny amount of subsidies compared to the overall size of it's business.

I'm not really sure that's a relevant measure, it's not like whichever city gets the decision is going to be handed the entire market value of Amazon, the vast majority of that value will stay exactly where it is now with its shareholders and assets spread around the world. Might be better looking at how that $1.24bn will compare to the extra tax revenue the city will receive and the extra costs it will face building up infrastructure etc, that's no different if it's a $500bn company or a $0.5bn company, it depends instead on the number of jobs and amount of investment it's going to provide in that city specifically.

[Steely Dan]

here are the 10 proposed sites chicago has offered to amazon in its bid:



The 78


source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...es-unveiled-ryan-ori-20171020-story.html





Lincoln Yards


source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...es-unveiled-ryan-ori-20171020-story.html





The River District


source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...es-unveiled-ryan-ori-20171020-story.html





Old Post Office


source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...es-unveiled-ryan-ori-20171020-story.html





Burnham Lakefront


source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...es-unveiled-ryan-ori-20171020-story.html






Illinois Medical District


source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...es-unveiled-ryan-ori-20171020-story.html





Fulton Market District


source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...es-unveiled-ryan-ori-20171020-story.html





City Center (thompson center site)


source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...es-unveiled-ryan-ori-20171020-story.html





Schaumburg


source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...es-unveiled-ryan-ori-20171020-story.html








Oak Brook


source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...es-unveiled-ryan-ori-20171020-story.html

[dc_denizen]

Go oak brook!

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by dc_denizen

Go oak brook!

I'm pulling for Schaumburg!

[the urban politician]

Oak Brook needs it more badly due to the loss of Ronnie McDonnie

[Tom In Chicago]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

I'm pulling for Schaumburg!

Isn't that Oak Brook image of the old McDonald's HQ?

. . .

[Steely Dan]

Originally Posted by Tom In Chicago

Isn't that Oak Brook image of the old McDonald's HQ?

yep.

the old McD's world HQ is one of the two suburban sites they're (laughably) pitching to amazon.

how could amazon possibly say no to the former site of Hamburger University?

[James Bond Agent 007]

I would think Chicago would be one of the top 3 just on account of the abundance of potential sites that could meet their needs - and then some. They could not only build HQ2 there, they could uproot all of HQ1 and move it to the Chicago area if they wanted.

[10023]

Originally Posted by James Bond Agent 007

I would think Chicago would be one of the top 3 just on account of the abundance of potential sites that could meet their needs - and then some. They could not only build HQ2 there, they could uproot all of HQ1 and move it to the Chicago area if they wanted.

One of Chicago's strengths is that they will let you build pretty much whatever the fuck you want.

[ocman]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

here are the 10 proposed sites chicago has offered to amazon in its bid:



Schaumburg


source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...es-unveiled-ryan-ori-20171020-story.html

Olivia Palermo and her husband may be the most popular rendering celebs this year. They always show up in a ton of LA renderings too.

[38 Geary]

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

The 78

source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...es-unveiled-ryan-ori-20171020-story.html

Lincoln Yards

source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/c...es-unveiled-ryan-ori-20171020-story.html

I like these two.

[James Bond Agent 007]

One other thing I was thinking of was, it might also be an advantage having a good site or two in the suburbs. With that many employees they might not want to build everything in the same downtown location, because there will always be lots of employees who live in the suburbs who would rather also work in the suburbs. So they could do something like, put 40K employees in one or two downtown locations, and the other 10K employees in some suburban location.

[bnk]

Originally Posted by James Bond Agent 007

One other thing I was thinking of was, it might also be an advantage having a good site or two in the suburbs. With that many employees they might not want to build everything in the same downtown location, because there will always be lots of employees who live in the suburbs who would rather also work in the suburbs. So they could do something like, put 40K employees in one or two downtown locations, and the other 10K employees in some suburban location.

The Suburbs are so vast and enormous [ 2 out of 3 Chicagoland people live in the sprawling burbs btw ] that those that want to live in the Burbs can but they have the excellent opportunity to ride an express commuter rail system downtown.

It doesn't even really mater if you are suburban north, northwest, west, southwest, southeast. They all have easy ride and rapid access via express lines to the ultimate campus that I think Amazon wants to create.

I could imagine a 2 year lease in Oak Brook for example, in addition to the Original Post Office massive Building [ Merchandise Mart like in size ], for a partial temporary unit until the full build out of what they desire which is by the Metra Stations and the CTA.

The Site Selection process put a real emphasis on being close to heavy rail commuter lines and a rather short distance from those mega stations that feed from the entire Chicagoland area. [ screw light rail btw, they can't carry thousands on each line at a time in rush hour like Metra can, double decker and take standing room,

they are flexible too using up to two diesel electric locomotives and up to 20 cars, they do this all of the time for major events.
I's sure they could expand rather easily if needed. ]

If a suburban campus was selected in addition to a downtown location it IMO it would only be temporary at most 2 years awaiting the total 5 Billion dollar ultimate location is completed .

Both of those suburban locations are vacant at the moment and would die at the chance for even one year from Amazon.

That's the only reason why they were listed, and also they are very distant from the heavy rail transportation system that Amazon desires.

[James Bond Agent 007]

The Amazon RFP didn't actually say they wanted to be near rail, though they did say something about proximity to highways and mass transit in general:

Logistics – Personnel travel and logistics needs, both from population centers to the Project site, as well as between company facilities, are critically important. As such, travel time to a major highway corridor and arterial roadway capacity potential are key factors. The highway corridors must provide direct access to significant population centers with eligible employment pools. Travel time to an international airport with daily direct flights to Seattle, New York, San Francisco/Bay Area, and Washington, D.C. is also an important consideration.

And then in one of the tables:

Access to mass transit - Direct access to rail, train, subway/metro, bus routes

So, any kind of mass transit. Don't know if the Oak Park and Schaumburg sites have any of that, but just pointing it out. The impression I get is that good freeway access might make up for mediocre mass transit.

[bnk]

I don't know but mass transit to me sounds like rail. Buses are not mass transit IMO, but hey that's me. Chicago has the fiber connections without a doubt. The trading floors absolutely need it and its already here.






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

Core Preferences Quantity Units Description Site Requirements Proximity to population center 30 Miles Proximity to International airport
Within approx. 45
Minutes


Proximity to major highways and arterial roads


Not more than 1-2


Miles
Close to major arterial roads to provide optimal access


Access to mass transit


At site

Direct access to rail, train, subway/metro, bus routes

...


Connectivity: Ensuring optimal fiber connectivity is paramount at our HQ2 location. Please demonstrate the fiber connectivity on all submitted site



...










“Round-trip travel time from Chicago to New Jersey has been cut to 13 milliseconds

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsb...ing-when-milliseconds-mean-millions.html

see also

https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2010/0927/...daniel-spivey-wall-street-speed-war.html

and

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spread_Networks

[James Bond Agent 007]

Originally Posted by bnk

I don't know but mass transit to me sounds like rail. Buses are not mass transit IMO, but hey that's me.

As I noted above, from the RFP

Access to mass transit - Direct access to rail, train, subway/metro, bus routes

[Atlanta3000]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

Why would you think that? Philly has released a public version of their proposal, though it does not go into the specific details of the economic incentives. Philly is consistently mentioned as a front runner.

There are 4 cities (that I aware of) Amazon approached prior to the release of the RFP. Atlanta, Louisville, St Louis and Kansas City and signed non-disclosure agreements that prevent said city from releasing details of their bid publicly.

[muertecaza]

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

There are 4 cities (that I aware of) Amazon approached prior to the release of the RFP. Atlanta, Louisville, St Louis and Kansas City signed non-disclosure agreements that prevent said city from releasing details of their bid to the public.

Don't know whether Phoenix was approached beforehand or if it means anything, but I've seen reporting that Phoenix's bid is subject to an NDA.

https://kjzz.org/content/553985/phoenix-officially-submits-bid-amazons-2nd-headquarters

A source with knowledge of the situation tells KJZZ the proposal is subject to a non-disclosure agreement...