Amazon HQ2 thread - Page 89

YSL · #**1761** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:06 PM**

DC is an expensive place. Since people seem to be eliminating expensive cities.. If NYC or Boston don't make it, DC won't either.

If cost of living isn't as big of a deal, then yea it has a pretty good chance. But I wonder why one would pick it over other expensive cities.

cannedairspray · #**1762** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CIA

Chicago is vastly different than the situation in Detroit. Chicago is not going to have trouble attracting top talent to the city. Most people on this forum would love to live in Chicago, for example.

Yeah, but you said top talent.

C. · #**1763** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by osmo

This is one of the reasons Indianapolis stuck our for me. I'm not aware of its heavy research or education attributes.

I wonder if it's a bargaining chip with negotiations with Chicago? Indianapolis would be a curious choice over all the rest.

Steely Dan · #**1764** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by osmo

This is one of the reasons Indianapolis stuck our for me. I'm not aware of its heavy research or education attributes.

What, you've never heard of the great and mighty "ooey-pooey"?

it's like haravard, but, you know, shittier.

The North One · #**1765** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:07 PM**

As long as I'm entertaining this list, why didn't Minneapolis make it? Houston also seemed like a sure thing.

C. · #**1766** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YSL

Will never understand why some people give DC a high chance.

DC is an expensive place. If NYC or Boston don't make it, DC won't either.

Well, there is 3 areas in the DC region on the shortlist. Right now, the DC region probably has the best shot of landing HQ2.

10023 · #**1767** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by osmo

This is one of the reasons Indianapolis stuck our for me. I'm not aware of its heavy research or education attributes.

I expect that Indiana is offering some VERY generous incentives.

James Bond Agent 007 · #**1768** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CIA

I wonder if it's a bargaining chip with negotiations with Chicago? Indianapolis would be a curious choice over all the rest.

I'm wondering if they figured it was the closest big city to UI-Champaign-Urbana? Which, after all, is one of the nation's top computer science schools. It looks a little closer to UI than Chicago.

Perdue is also a highly ranked CS school, at least its graduate program:
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-science-schools/computer-science-rankings

YSL · #**1769** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CIA

Well, there is 3 areas in the DC region on the shortlist. Right now, the DC region probably has the best shot of landing HQ2.

Does that mean NYC has the 2nd best shot since Newark is on this list?

It appears 3 times since they're in 3 different states and submitted separate bids. DC and NYC are the only major cities in America broken up between states. Amazon is choosing between large metro areas.

JManc · #**1770** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The North One

As long as I'm entertaining this list, why didn't Minneapolis make it? Houston also seemed like a sure thing.

Houston had no chance. Houston's strong suit is energy and medicine, not tech.

C. · #**1771** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YSL

Does that mean NYC has the 2nd best shot since Newark is on this list?

Good point - I would say no for cost of living reasons. But then again New Jersey legislature just passed a massive tax incentive and one of the final acts of the prior NJ governor was signing it into law. We're talking billions and billions in incentives.

Steely Dan · #**1772** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Bond Agent 007

I'm wondering if they figured it was the closest big city to UI-Champaign-Urbana? Which, after all, is one of the nation's top computer science schools. It looks a little closer to UI than Chicago.

dubious.

champaign to downtown chicago: 126 miles

champaign to downtown indianapolis: 113 miles

i highly doubt that amazon is gonna make such a MAJOR decision based on 13 miles.

dktshb · #**1773** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

No more shocked than I am about NYC and LA being on the list.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iheartthed

LA was a shocker too, but Miami is a head-scratcher... for me. NYC makes sense in some ways, but not on cost. Miami doesn't make sense to me for any reason. That was a true dark horse.

Why are people shocked about LA? Amazon Studios is expanding and so is Steve Bezos' house. He has also been spotted Downtown more than a few times.

James Bond Agent 007 · #**1774** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steely Dan

dubious.

champaign to downtown chicago: 126 miles

champaign to downtown indianapolis: 113 miles

i highly doubt that amazon is gonna make such a MAJOR decision based on 13 miles.

That could be true. But as I said there is also Perdue.

In fact, all of the smaller cities (Austin, Raleigh, Indy, Columbus and Nashville), as far as I can tell, appear to be there due to the presence of major CS schools (UT, UNC/NC State/Duke, Perdue, Ohio State and Vanderbilt).

YSL · #**1775** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by CIA

Good point - I would say no for cost of living reasons. But then again New Jersey legislature just passed a massive tax incentive and one of the final acts of the prior NJ governor was signing it into law. We're talking billions and billions in incentives.

I don't think NJ is that much more expensive than the greater DC area.
They're both expensive.

C. · #**1776** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JManc

Houston had no chance. Houston's strong suit is energy and medicine, not tech.

Refreshing to see an honest assessment without irrational hometown boosterism that has plagued this thread.

I was thinking Houston might have a shot based on the relatively low cost of living and no state income taxes.

C. · #**1777** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by YSL

I don't think NJ is that much more expensive than the greater DC area.
They're both expensive.

NJ is about the same but NYC is through the roof. I would be surprised if NYC gets it, but I suppose Newark has a shot.

skyscraperpage17 · #**1778** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The North One

As long as I'm entertaining this list, why didn't Minneapolis make it? Houston also seemed like a sure thing.

Minneapolis didn't want to offer the incentives Amazon wants.

As far as Houston, Dallas is just a much better fit.

skyscraperpage17 · #**1779** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:30 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dktshb

Why are people shocked about LA? Amazon Studios is expanding and so is Steve Bezos' house. He has also been spotted Downtown more than a few times.

Well for one, I don't think Amazon wants another West Coast HQ.

Sun Belt · #**1780** Posted **Jan 18, 2018, 5:33 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by dktshb

Why are people shocked about LA? Amazon Studios is expanding and so is Steve Bezos' house. He has also been spotted Downtown more than a few times.

To my knowledge LA has 9 sites and it would be a LA city and county joint proposal of sorts.

Like you said, Amazon Studios in Santa Monica is expanding, that could be an attribute or it could be detrimental in LA's bid. Studios in LA, and HQ2 elsewhere?