Amazon HQ2 thread - Page 67

dimondpark · #**1321** Posted **Nov 22, 2017, 7:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10023

My guess is that Chicago locals and press are just more on top of it than elsewhere.

Yup, I cant be mad at a city for working the media to it's advantage

Yuri · #**1322** Posted **Nov 23, 2017, 8:36 PM**

Guys, when will they make a decision? Is Chicago the favourite or no one really knows yet?

James Bond Agent 007 · #**1323** Posted **Nov 23, 2017, 9:52 PM**

Next year, and nobody knows yet.

10023 · #**1324** Posted **Nov 23, 2017, 9:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuriandrade

Guys, when will they make a decision? Is Chicago the favourite or no one really knows yet?

No one really knows, but if I am trying to be unbiased then I would say that Chicago is not the favorite. It’s probably somewhere really dull like Atlanta.

skyscraperpage17 · #**1325** Posted **Nov 23, 2017, 10:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10023

It’s probably somewhere really dull like Atlanta.

skyscraperpage17 · #**1326** Posted **Nov 23, 2017, 10:36 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by yuriandrade

Guys, when will they make a decision? Is Chicago the favourite or no one really knows yet?

I've heard early 2018.

And no. Only Amazon knows what city (or cities) is the favorite.

Omaharocks · #**1327** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 3:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10023

No one really knows, but if I am trying to be unbiased then I would say that Chicago is not the favorite. It’s probably somewhere really dull like Atlanta.

I used to think the same thing about Atlanta when I was a dull white kid from Nebraska who went to UW-Madison...and for a few year after graduating until I gained some perspective living around the U.S., in D.C., the northwest, New Mexico, Boston, and Atlanta. And a few locations abroad.

I'm still a dull white guy, but I realize now that Atlanta is anything but dull, and no better/worse than Chicago. Just different.

Nomad9 · #**1328** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 4:45 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omaharocks

I used to think the same thing about Atlanta when I was a dull white kid from Nebraska who went to UW-Madison...and for a few year after graduating until I gained some perspective living around the U.S., in D.C., the northwest, New Mexico, Boston, and Atlanta. And a few locations abroad.

I'm still a dull white guy, but I realize now that Atlanta is anything but dull, and no better/worse than Chicago. Just different.

Could have meant “dull” in the sense that a corporate move to/expansion in Atlanta (or Dallas, Houston, Charlotte, Austin, etc.) would be boring because they happen all the time. Someplace like Chicago—or especially a real underdog like Detroit or Baltimore—would be more interesting.

10023 · #**1329** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 7:22 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omaharocks

I used to think the same thing about Atlanta when I was a dull white kid from Nebraska who went to UW-Madison...and for a few year after graduating until I gained some perspective living around the U.S., in D.C., the northwest, New Mexico, Boston, and Atlanta. And a few locations abroad.

I'm still a dull white guy, but I realize now that Atlanta is anything but dull, and no better/worse than Chicago. Just different.

What on earth was the purpose of this reply?

10023 · #**1330** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 7:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomad9

Could have meant “dull” in the sense that a corporate move to/expansion in Atlanta (or Dallas, Houston, Charlotte, Austin, etc.) would be boring because they happen all the time. Someplace like Chicago—or especially a real underdog like Detroit or Baltimore—would be more interesting.

And something that looks like a typical corporate office park (perhaps with a questionably useful connection to MARTA) to boot.

The ATX · #**1331** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 8:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omaharocks

I used to think the same thing about Atlanta when I was a dull white kid from Nebraska who went to UW-Madison...and for a few year after graduating until I gained some perspective living around the U.S., in D.C., the northwest, New Mexico, Boston, and Atlanta. And a few locations abroad.

I'm still a dull white guy, but I realize now that Atlanta is anything but dull, and no better/worse than Chicago. Just different.

Why does your race matter?

skyscraperpage17 · #**1332** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 8:36 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10023

What on earth was the purpose of this reply?

The same purpose someone has for going out of their way to bash a city by calling it "really dull."

skyscraperpage17 · #**1333** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 8:43 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Omaharocks

I used to think the same thing about Atlanta when I was a dull white kid from Nebraska who went to UW-Madison...and for a few year after graduating until I gained some perspective living around the U.S., in D.C., the northwest, New Mexico, Boston, and Atlanta. And a few locations abroad.

I'm still a dull white guy, but I realize now that Atlanta is anything but dull, and no better/worse than Chicago. Just different.

Thanks for the reasonable reply.

It's great that we can have an open dialogue about where cities stand in potentially landing Amazon HQ2, but it's very childish to bash a particular city with no factual basis to stand on or based on a factor not unique to said city (I.E. bad traffic, sprawl, etc.).

skyscraperpage17 · #**1334** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 9:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomad9

Could have meant “dull” in the sense that a corporate move to/expansion in Atlanta (or Dallas, Houston, Charlotte, Austin, etc.) would be boring because they happen all the time. Someplace like Chicago—or especially a real underdog like Detroit or Baltimore—would be more interesting.

I can understand people wanting Detroit or Baltimore to land Amazon HQ2 for the sentimental factor (I.E. places that have suffered from unprecedented decline and divestment).

As far as Chicago, I don't see how it's on the same playing field as the aforementioned places. Its government is going through some rough fiscal times now (just like NYC did in the 1970s), but if the rapid growth in the Loop and surrounding areas is any sign, it's certainly not hurting from a lack of investment. It's no different than Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, etc. in that regard.

But in any event, the point is these places who frequently land corporate expansions / relocations and are experiencing a ton of investment are obviously doing something right. It doesn't make them any less deserving than other cities who aren't seeing nearly as much investment or landing nearly as many corporate expansions / relocations.

Pedestrian · #**1335** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 5:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

Why does your race matter?

Because, like admitting he's "dull", admitting he's "white" counts as self-deprecation these days and means his opinion in liberal debate should be given less credence.

dc_denizen · #**1336** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 6:17 PM**

atlanta is hardly dull. it has all the accoutrements of a big city.

it's very, very just poorly planned.

poorly planned does not mean there are no restaurants, universities, cool places to hang out, theater, orchestras, comedy shows, rock concerts, etc etc etc.

just that these these tend to occur at various car-centric points across the urban area, rather in a walkable proximity to eachother.

people who call houston or atlanta (well, maybe houston haha) dull don't really know what they're talking about.

Pedestrian · #**1337** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 6:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dc_denizen

people who call houston or atlanta (well, maybe houston haha) dull don't really know what they're talking about.

Been to downtown Atlanta only once and that was a long time ago (when I applied for an internship at Grady Memorial Hospital), but I had a great time there.

The most unlikeable thing about Atlanta, though, and it could be an issue for Amazon, is the traffic. Aside from my downtown sojourn, I've had to drive around or through Atlanta more recently--once during the "polar vortex" of a few years ago--and the interstates in and around the city are horrendous.

skyscraperpage17 · #**1338** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 6:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dc_denizen

atlanta is hardly dull. it has all the accoutrements of a big city.

it's very, very just poorly planned.

poorly planned does not mean there are no restaurants, universities, cool places to hang out, theater, orchestras, comedy shows, rock concerts, etc etc etc.

just that these these tend to occur at various car-centric points across the urban area, rather in a walkable proximity to eachother.

people who call houston or atlanta (well, maybe houston haha) dull don't really know what they're talking about.

Poorly planned is fair criticism.

Atlanta (and cities like Houston, Charlotte, Dallas, etc.) boomed at a time when suburbanization and the car culture were king. Fortunately, all of these cities are actively taking steps to correct the mistakes that were made. Dallas and Atlanta in particular (whose city centers were built on grids and already have good bones to build an extensive transit system) are well on their way to establishing vibrant urban neighborhoods.

skyscraperpage17 · #**1339** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 6:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

Been to downtown Atlanta only once and that was a long time ago (when I applied for an internship at Grady Memorial Hospital), but I had a great time there.

The most unlikeable thing about Atlanta, though, and it could be an issue for Amazon, is the traffic. Aside from my downtown sojourn, I've had to drive around or through Atlanta more recently--once during the "polar vortex" of a few years ago--and the interstates in and around the city are horrendous.

Well, yes and no. If traffic were a dealbreaker, DC, Chicago and Boston would also have to be ruled out.

As far as Atlanta's transit situation, if you choose to live out in the suburbs, then yeah that could be an issue (although I'm sure people are well aware of the lack of transit in the suburbs before moving). However, for all of the criticism about MARTA's imperfections, it does get one to/from the main places of importance (I.E. downtown / midtown for living / work, Buckhead for shopping, the Airport, etc.) and at a fairly rapid pace. It's not like the system is a train to nowhere.

Pedestrian · #**1340** Posted **Nov 24, 2017, 6:34 PM**

^^I'm not criticizing MARTA--never used it. And I'm not really singling out Atlanta for its bad traffic. Certainly other cities have bad traffic too. But my worst traffic experiences, maybe because I wasn't so much expecting them, have been in Atlanta and Houston.

Also, I agree it's not necessarily a deal breaker for Bezos. Just another factor but possibly a negative one.