Amazon HQ2 bid - Page 16

jpk1292000 · #**301** Posted **Jan 21, 2018, 1:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

Normally I would 100% agree with you. Amazon is an exception for a number of reasons:

* If selected Atlanta would immediately be catapulted into a league of elite tech hubs in the US and Internationally.

* Tech jobs are the jobs of the future. Amazon will provide an economic foundation that will allow Atlanta to weather future recessions better than otherwise and raise the median wage for most Atlantans because of the increased competition.

* TRANSPORATION - Landing Amazon will force the CoA, Metro Counties and the State to make significant investments in infrastructure both short and long term.

* Spinoffs - when a company attracts the best talent, invariably they leave to create start ups that drive additional economic benefits.

* PR - Worldwide Atlanta will be put on stage for winning the most significant corporate expansion in US history.

Libertarian you and I are usually on the same stage. However I can't stress enough that attracting Amazon AT ANY COST is the best investment Atlanta will ever make.

Agree 100%...landing Amazon will transform the city in ways that nothing else can, I believe. I think if Amazon picks Atlanta, it will likely catapult Atlanta's standing as a city into the top 5 in this country, ie. NY, LA, SF, Chicago, then ATL. Amazon hasn't done this to Seattle, ie. Atlanta is probably a more influential global city than Seattle right now, at least it is according to global city rankings. But for a city like Atlanta with its existing clout as a corporate headquarters hub, transportation hub, and entertainment industry hub, adding Amazon will elevate the city's stature in a way that almost nothing else can.

Ant131531 · #**302** Posted **Jan 21, 2018, 1:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpk1292000

Agree 100%...landing Amazon will transform the city in ways that nothing else can, I believe. I think if Amazon picks Atlanta, it will likely catapult Atlanta's standing as a city into the top 5 in this country, ie. NY, LA, SF, Chicago, then ATL. Amazon hasn't done this to Seattle, ie. Atlanta is probably a more influential global city than Seattle right now, at least it is according to global city rankings. But for a city like Atlanta with its existing clout as a corporate headquarters hub, transportation hub, and entertainment industry hub, adding Amazon will elevate the city's stature in a way that almost nothing else can.

Ridiculous. One company does not make a city. ATL will not place over DC because Amazon comes here. DC will still have the better urban neighborhoods, more wealth, more influence, bigger transit system, more brand recognition than Atlanta will.

skyscraperpage17 · #**303** Posted **Jan 21, 2018, 1:58 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Ridiculous. One company does not make a city. ATL will not place over DC because Amazon comes here. DC will still have the better urban neighborhoods, more wealth, more influence, bigger transit system, more brand recognition than Atlanta will.

What that poster said may have been an overexaggeration, but that said, it's hard to believe Amazon won't accelerate Atlanta's growth if their impact in Seattle is any sign.

Street Advocate · #**304** Posted **Jan 21, 2018, 2:12 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Ridiculous. One company does not make a city. ATL will not place over DC because Amazon comes here. DC will still have the better urban neighborhoods, more wealth, more influence, bigger transit system, more brand recognition than Atlanta will.

Yeah Atlanta may grow into bigger city 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 with new infrastructure over the next few decades, but there’s always DC, Philly, Boston, Houston, and Dallas ahead of us in GDP, not to mention San Diego, Seattle, and a handful of denser cities could always argue they’re a better place to live than Atlanta for one reason or another on personal preferences. Atlanta is growing in the right direction, but I think we should just keep our head down and keep doing what’s best for us. We barely have sidewalks in many neighborhoods, have a low transit ridership split, and have one of the lowest densities across all major US cities. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

skyscraperpage17 · #**305** Posted **Jan 21, 2018, 1:27 PM**

Amazon HQ2 skit from SNL.

As I'm sure everyone knows, Kenan Thompson is an Atlanta native.

• Video Link

Pemgin · #**306** Posted **Jan 21, 2018, 6:56 PM**

Paula Deen is not an Atlanta native nor does she even live here. Low effort parody.

L41A · #**307** Posted **Jan 21, 2018, 7:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pemgin

Paula Deen is not an Atlanta native nor does she even live here. Low effort parody.

Agreed!

bigstick · #**308** Posted **Jan 21, 2018, 7:36 PM**

The entire skit was lame as 🞵🞵🞵🞵...

Dale · #**309** Posted **Jan 21, 2018, 7:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pemgin

Paula Deen is not an Atlanta native nor does she even live here. Low effort parody.

SNL hasn't been funny, let alone ingenious in thirty years.

montydawg · #**310** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 4:13 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale

SNL hasn't been funny, let alone ingenious in thirty years.

Haha don’t take the skit personally. Wish they mentioned the airport was 20 minutes via train

Ant131531 · #**311** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 1:54 PM**

Paddypower 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 site now has Boston as clear favorite to win HQ2 so they seem to agree with me that it seems Boston is becoming the obvious favorite from more info that comes out.

http://www.paddypower.com/bet?action=go_...%20build%20their%20Second%20Headquarters

2/1....pretty sure that's the best odds any city has had so far. Atlanta at 5/1 down from 3/1.

3yonce · #**312** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 2:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Paddypower 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 site now has Boston as clear favorite to win HQ2 so they seem to agree with me that it seems Boston is becoming the obvious favorite from more info that comes out.

http://www.paddypower.com/bet?action=go_...%20build%20their%20Second%20Headquarters

2/1....pretty sure that's the best odds any city has had so far. Atlanta at 5/1 down from 3/1.

I wonder what's changed in the last few days... Maybe it has something to do with that SNL sketch?

Atlanta3000 · #**313** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 2:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Paddypower 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 site now has Boston as clear favorite to win HQ2 so they seem to agree with me that it seems Boston is becoming the obvious favorite from more info that comes out.

http://www.paddypower.com/bet?action=go_...%20build%20their%20Second%20Headquarters

2/1....pretty sure that's the best odds any city has had so far. Atlanta at 5/1 down from 3/1.

I personally think it is highly unlikely they will select Boston. Although Boston has a lot to offer, there are 3 undeniable areas that are a negative:

Boston is not a city that embraces growth. If they were to select Boston, Amazon would quickly find themselves butting heads with the anti-growth citizens they are confronting in Seattle.
Cost - from CoL, Real Estate to Wages. Every aspect on the corporate side and employee side would be considerably more expense if Boston HQ2. Given Amazon is planning to hire 50K employees you cannot under estimate the power CoL will have on Amazon's ability to attract talent. Amazon has to be taking this into consideration. CoL is the primary reason you see Silicon Valley companies move jobs from their West Coast operations into lower cost cities.
Incentives.

I don't think we should under estimate Amazon registering the lobbyist late last year. I think this was a major clue where Amazon is focusing their selection. Also note in the Power Paddy rankings today Austin in now in a distant 3rd.

ATLSkyPalaceOwner · #**314** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 3:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

I personally think it is highly unlikely they will select Boston. Although Boston has a lot to offer, there are 3 undeniable areas that are a negative:

Boston is not a city that embraces growth. If they were to select Boston, Amazon would quickly find themselves butting heads with the anti-growth citizens they are confronting in Seattle.
Cost - from CoL, Real Estate to Wages. Every aspect on the corporate side and employee side would be considerably more expense if Boston HQ2. Given Amazon is planning to hire 50K employees you cannot under estimate the power CoL will have on Amazon's ability to attract talent. Amazon has to be taking this into consideration. CoL is the primary reason you see Silicon Valley companies move jobs from their West Coast operations into lower cost cities.
Incentives.

I don't think we should under estimate Amazon registering the lobbyist late last year. I think this was a major clue where Amazon is focusing their selection. Also note in the Power Paddy rankings today Austin in now in a distant 3rd.

11/2 is 5.5/1, not really a distant 3rd considering we are 5/1

Atlanta3000 · #**315** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 3:58 PM**

New study predicts Atlanta has best shot at becoming Amazon’s HQ2

https://techcrunch.com/2018/01/22/new-study-predicts-atlanta-has-best-shot-at-becoming-amazons-hq2/

The updated predictions from the firm are, as follows:

Atlanta
Suburban Virginia (D.C. area)
Washington, D.C.
Suburban Maryland (D.C. area)
Boston
Newark (NYC area)
New York
Philadelphia
Chicago
Denver
Austin
Dallas
Pittsburgh
Raleigh
Toronto, Canada
Nashville
Miami
Los Angeles
Indianapolis
Columbus, OH

Khantilever · #**316** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 4:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

I personally think it is highly unlikely they will select Boston. Although Boston has a lot to offer, there are 3 undeniable areas that are a negative:

Boston is not a city that embraces growth. If they were to select Boston, Amazon would quickly find themselves butting heads with the anti-growth citizens they are confronting in Seattle.
Cost - from CoL, Real Estate to Wages. Every aspect on the corporate side and employee side would be considerably more expense if Boston HQ2. Given Amazon is planning to hire 50K employees you cannot under estimate the power CoL will have on Amazon's ability to attract talent. Amazon has to be taking this into consideration. CoL is the primary reason you see Silicon Valley companies move jobs from their West Coast operations into lower cost cities.
Incentives.

I similarly wrote off Boston early on, but I'm slowly realizing it's a real possibility.

1. Amazon has also shown an ability to thrive in a very restrictive urban environment. While I'm sure that, at the margin, they'd like to be located in a more pro-growth area with available land, it's not necessarily a major issue. It definitely seems to me an overreaction to conclude they're looking for a strong opposite - that's just a risky 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 if Amazon isn't entirely sure why they've been so successful (maybe there's something in Seattle water, after all).

2. Not all types of COL are the same. All else equal, Amazon would probably be more willing to deal with high COL in Boston than in Seattle.

Both Seattle and Boston are severely land constrained and have restrictive zoning. But Seattle's high cost of living reflects both high productivity and highly desirable amenities (weather, mountains, etc.). Boston's high COL is mainly a reflection of its productivity advantages. The latter is reflective of a benefit that Amazon actually internalizes, and so is willing to pay more; in the Seattle case, Amazon suffers a bit because Amazon (and its employees) are also competing for land with people who just want to live in Seattle for the amenities and are not particularly productive - that drives up costs past the point that reflect local worker productivity.

Atlanta3000 · #**317** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 4:54 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Khantilever

I similarly wrote off Boston early on, but I'm slowly realizing it's a real possibility.

1. Amazon has also shown an ability to thrive in a very restrictive urban environment. While I'm sure that, at the margin, they'd like to be located in a more pro-growth area with available land, it's not necessarily a major issue. It definitely seems to me an overreaction to conclude they're looking for a strong opposite - that's just a risky 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵 if Amazon isn't entirely sure why they've been so successful (maybe there's something in Seattle water, after all).

2. Not all types of COL are the same. All else equal, Amazon would probably be more willing to deal with high COL in Boston than in Seattle.

Both Seattle and Boston are severely land constrained and have restrictive zoning. But Seattle's high cost of living reflects both high productivity and highly desirable amenities (weather, mountains, etc.). Boston's high COL is mainly a reflection of its productivity advantages. The latter is reflective of a benefit that Amazon actually internalizes, and so is willing to pay more; in the Seattle case, Amazon suffers a bit because Amazon (and its employees) are also competing for land with people who just want to live in Seattle for the amenities and are not particularly productive - that drives up costs past the point that reflect local worker productivity.

You make some interesting points, but I would argue that the productivity gains a company is able to achieve in Boston vs. Atlanta pale in comparison to the economic gains if Atlanta is selected. Concerning the CoL, look at it from the view of a prospective employee. Food, transportation, housing, school, state taxes...etc are all significantly higher in Boston. This will impact Amazon's ability to attract talent and retain talent and they know it.

Putting all of the previously discussed issues aside, Amazon recently signed a 500K lease for a ground up office in Boston's Seaport district and has an option for an additional 500K. Amazon said this was not tied to their HQ2 announcement. Also, Boston's Seaport does not have the space available to be an option for Amazon's HQ2.

Question - does it make sense for Amazon to sign a 500K lease in Seaport if they are going to choose Boston for their HQ2? It does not seem logical to me at all. It goes back to a point I make earlier in this sub-forum, Boston will be a significant regional HQ for developing Amazon's Artificial Intelligence applications/technologies, but it will not be their HQ2.

bigstick · #**318** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 4:55 PM**

Makes much more sense. These cities I would eliminate right now....

The updated predictions from the firm are, as follows:

Atlanta
Suburban Virginia (D.C. area)
Washington, D.C.
Suburban Maryland (D.C. area)
Boston
Newark (NYC area)
New York
Philadelphia
Chicago
Denver
Austin
Dallas
Pittsburgh
Raleigh
Toronto, Canada
Nashville
Miami
Los Angeles
Indianapolis
Columbus, OH

Atlanta3000 · #**319** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 5:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigstick

Makes much more sense. These cities I would eliminate right now....

The updated predictions from the firm are, as follows:

Atlanta
Suburban Virginia (D.C. area)
Washington, D.C.
Suburban Maryland (D.C. area)
Boston
Newark (NYC area)
New York
Philadelphia
Chicago
Denver
Austin
Dallas
Pittsburgh
Raleigh
Toronto, Canada
Nashville
Miami
Los Angeles
Indianapolis
Columbus, OH

My Top Three In Order

Atlanta
Philly
Dallas

All 3 check Amazon's RFP requirements plus are pro-growth and have a relatively lower cost to operate a business and have significantly lower cost of living for their future employees.

Atlanta3000 · #**320** Posted **Jan 22, 2018, 5:44 PM**

Atlanta and these four other cities are most likely to get Amazon’s new headquarters: Tech analyst

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/22/gbh-insi...rs-are-likely-to-get-amazons-new-hq.html