Amazon HQ2 thread

[pj3000]

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[pj3000]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

Nashville only has that lone commuter rail line though, with fairly low ridership at that.

Ok

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by pj3000

Ok

I guess I should elaborate.

Nashville's commuter rail is fine and all for the small portion of the metro it serves. But it's not about it "not counting" as you say, but rather beyond that, their transit system is fairly abysmal.

[pj3000]

^ Ok, whatever. The list of heavy rail rapid transit vs. commuter rail was clarified. That's all I was asking Steely about.

[SteveD]

Originally Posted by 10023

Except the nice neighborhoods are all to the North, so no, that doesn't work.

Incorrect. I live in a beautiful and wonderfully community oriented and diverse neighborhood immediately below that second "t" in Atlanta. East Atlanta Village.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by SteveD

Incorrect. I live in a beautiful and wonderfully community oriented and diverse neighborhood immediately below that second "t" in Atlanta. East Atlanta Village.

I'm in Newnan, which is the fastest growing community on the south side. Other than upscale shopping and restaurants, everything you can find in the northern suburbs can be found here or in Peachteee City.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

...
And a suburb doesn't have to be "affluent" to be good. WTF does that even mean?

He didn't use the word "good," he said "nice." There are plenty of "good" cities/neighborhoods/areas that are pleasant, functional communities, but not particularly "nice."

Within the context, "nice" would mean not only good-looking, well-kept homes, but higher-end shops, fine dining restaurants, good access to doctors offices - including specialists, roads that are well-maintained to a high standard, and police that are extremely unlikely to shoot you under almost any circumstances.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by emathias

He didn't use the word "good," he said "nice." There are plenty of "good" cities/neighborhoods/areas that are pleasant, functional communities, but not particularly "nice."

Within the context, "nice" would mean not only good-looking, well-kept homes, but higher-end shops, fine dining restaurants, good access to doctors offices - including specialists, roads that are well-maintained to a high standard, and police that are extremely unlikely to shoot you under almost any circumstances.

Regardless, I just named several communities in others parts of Atlanta (in the parts of my post you edited out) that has much of these characteristics.

And unless someone plans to eat at Ruth Chris or shop at Bloomingdales every other day, I'm not sure why that should be the standard to judge the niceness of a community.

My point is, the individual's post reeked of ignorance about the Atlanta area.

[Vlajos]

^ Steak houses suck and I'm surprised anyone considers them fine dining. They are almost always just a massive rip off. Most seem completely unable to grill/cook/broil a steak medium rare, including Ruth's Chris.

[pj3000]

Does Atlanta have good pizza?

[Pedestrian]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

^ Steak houses suck and I'm surprised anyone considers them fine dining. They are almost always just a massive rip off. Most seem completely unable to grill/cook/broil a steak medium rare, including Ruth's Chris.

Top quality steak houses--the kind with fully aged prime beef that's nearly impossible to buy for home consumption--are expensive and just about everybody but vegetarians likes either steak or roast beef so steak houses tend to be prime turf for entertaining business clients and groups. Based on price and on that function, they ARE fine dining (and I live in a town where you can drop $1000 on a tasting menu) even if they are on my list of restaurant types I never go to because my favorite steak is the kind that comes off my backyard grill at home.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

Top quality steak houses--the kind with fully aged prime beef that's nearly impossible to buy for home consumption--are expensive and just about everybody but vegetarians likes either steak or roast beef so steak houses tend to be prime turf for entertaining business clients and groups. Based on price and on that function, they ARE fine dining (and I live in a town where you can drop $1000 on a tasting menu) even if they are on my list of restaurant types I never go to because my favorite steak is the kind that comes off my backyard grill at home.

I hate when we are entertained at steak houses for business. I know the prices are outrageous and the food always leaves me bored. And I love steak. Can you name one of these places that are fantastic?

I can buy dry aged prime steaks in my neighborhood, so I see little value in steak houses. I'd much rather go to Naha, Sepia or Goosefoot (in Chicago where I live) than a steak house.

[IrishIllini]

Originally Posted by pj3000

Does Atlanta have good pizza?

Idk how we got on the topic of food, but my parents went to Atlanta a few years ago and asked the hotel receptionist where they should go. She asked where they were from and when they said Chicago the receptionist told them they have a "Chicago pizza restaurant" they should check out, haha.

[emathias]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

...
I'd much rather go to Naha, Sepia or Goosefoot (in Chicago where I live) than a steak house.

I love Naha. I was a recognized regular there for many years until I got hitched and could no longer justify the gross expenditure it took to dine there at least weekly. Still love going back now and then, but most of the staff that recognized me have moved on so it's not quite the same for me as it was, but it's still great food. They actually have a great steak on their menu, which I've had a couple times, but it's really only there for the business folk I think - usually their non-steak items are far more interesting. And I think they have the best cheese course in the entire city - maybe one of the best in the country - I've made a meal just of that more than once.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

The thing with Detroit is that they obviously didn't lose out because of its lack of transit (because otherwise, how do you explain Raleigh, Nashville and Indianapolis?).

Detroit's just a hard sell with its perception (rightly or wrongly) of being a crime-ridden, bankrupt, impoverished, has-been hellhole.

Dan Gilbert has confirmed my assumption (not shocking in the least).

As I suspected, Amazon simply gave Detroit a line with the generic response about transit and talent.

Dan Gilbert blames 'elephant in the room' -- Detroit reputation -- for Amazon miss

https://www.freep.com/story/money/busine...troit-reputation-amazon-miss/1062598001/

[jd3189]

Here are some articles I found today on the Amazon bids. If anyone wants to post excerpts from them here, you are highly welcome.


This one says that the cities that are mostly likely to get the HQ are Atlanta, Raleigh, DC, Boston, and Austin based on this criteria:

1. "East Coast presence."
2. "Thriving engineering/surrounding university infrastructure and student pipeline."
3. "Transportation hub with major growth potential."
4. "Strong technology and pharma industry presence."
5. "Business friendly, political incentives, and attractive tax/economic long term benefits."

This article says that the cities that most likely won't get it are Toronto, Newark, Denver, Columbus, Nashville, Austin, and Raleigh.


And this one from USA Today just goes over the pros and cons of each city.

[BG918]

Originally Posted by jd3189

This one says that the cities that are mostly likely to get the HQ are Atlanta, Raleigh, DC, Boston, and Austin based on this criteria:
.

Those would be my top 5 too but Philadelphia instead of Austin.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by BG918

Those would be my top 5 too but Philadelphia instead of Austin.

Raleigh over Austin? I think neither is top 5 but Austin is over Raleigh.

[AviationGuy]

Originally Posted by jd3189

Here are some articles I found today on the Amazon bids. If anyone wants to post excerpts from them here, you are highly welcome.


This one says that the cities that are mostly likely to get the HQ are Atlanta, Raleigh, DC, Boston, and Austin based on this criteria:




This article says that the cities that most likely won't get it are Toronto, Newark, Denver, Columbus, Nashville, Austin, and Raleigh.


And this one from USA Today just goes over the pros and cons of each city.

Can't believe the USA article didn't mention Austin's infamous traffic congestion and poor mass transit as cons.

[10023]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

^ Steak houses suck and I'm surprised anyone considers them fine dining. They are almost always just a massive rip off. Most seem completely unable to grill/cook/broil a steak medium rare, including Ruth's Chris.

Part of the problem is that you're using Ruth's Chris as a measuring stick. That's like going to Olive Garden and then saying you don't like Italian restaurants. Try Bavette's Bar & Bouef (one of Brendan Sodikoff's restaurants). Excellent cocktails too.

You are right in that steaks, and typical steakhouse dishes, are among the easier things for a capable cook to do at home, however.