CHICAGO | Economic & Business Development - Page 61

Vlajos · #**1201** Posted **Mar 21, 2018, 5:25 PM**

Wow, some solid growth in tourism and conventions. Hope it continues

bnk · #**1202** Posted **Mar 22, 2018, 5:28 PM**

I have to admit I'm surprised by a pretty much total blackout on news thus far, this being Amazon's been here for two days already. No news on sites visited, no wine and dining talk. No reports of helicopters. Rahm has cards tight to he chest on this one.

It's chilly out, 40 degrees, but there is not a cloud in the sky. Kind of fell in a good weather window.
Meanwhile it raining and 43 degrees in Seattle and the east coast has had 4 noreasters in just March of this year.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_2018_nor%27easter

This is all we know so far

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busine...322-story.html

By Lauren Zumbach, Ryan Ori and Kyle Bentle•Contact Reporters

March 22, 2018, 5:20 PM

Amazon’s site selection team scouted five of the 10 proposed Chicago-area development sites while in the city this week, sources said.

Those sites were:

• The Burnham Lakefront, Farpoint Development and Draper and Kramer’s planned redevelopment of the former Michael Reese Hospital site and other land just south of Interstate 55 and McCormick Place.

• The 78, Related Midwest’s 62-acre site along the Chicago River between the South Loop and Chinatown.

• Lincoln Yards, Sterling Bay’s more than 70-acre site on the river along Lincoln Park and Bucktown.

• The River District, 37 riverfront acres owned by Tribune Media between Chicago and Grand avenues.

• Land belonging to multiple owners in the Fulton Market district on the Near West Side.

marothisu · #**1203** Posted **Mar 22, 2018, 11:18 PM**

^ I'm really surprised that Old Post Office/Union Station wasn't part of the scouting tour, apparently. A few of these places though provide a completely blank slate for them though I am a bit weird on the transit access at a few of these sites, but that can be remedied I guess. Still surprised though because it sounds like they really want 500K sq ft of space right away with the option to expand nearby soon after. OPO area is great for that, though so is Fulton Market potentially. Imagine if they picked Chicago and it was Fulton Market. OOF..

Randomguy34 · #**1204** Posted **Mar 22, 2018, 11:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marothisu

Imagine if they picked Chicago and it was Fulton Market. OOF..

If Fulton Market ever gets a massive tech HQ, it will literally become the Loop equivalent for the tech industry

bnk · #**1205** Posted **Mar 22, 2018, 11:35 PM**

I can't find it in the news but didn't Amazon visit Chicago months ago, or even late last year, unofficially. I swear I remember that but do not recall the places they visited.

marothisu · #**1206** Posted **Mar 22, 2018, 11:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bnk

I can't find it in the news but didn't Amazon visit Chicago months ago, or even late last year, unofficially. I swear I remember that but do not recall the places they visited.

Probably? Amazon DOES have an office in the Loop which I believe announced of late that it would double headcount and the permit was issued a month or two ago. Also, Amazon employs thousands of people at fulfillment centers in the area.

marothisu · #**1207** Posted **Mar 23, 2018, 12:07 PM**

Okay..according to Crain's they did visit OPO.

IrishIllini · #**1208** Posted **Mar 23, 2018, 2:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by marothisu

Okay..according to Crain's they did visit OPO.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/artic...-what-they-did

That's the article if anyone is interested. It doesn't relay too much info. Seems like both Rahm and Rauner are playing it cool. Interesting that these two seem to get along until a certain someone enters the picture...

bnk · #**1209** Posted **Mar 24, 2018, 9:04 PM**

Not sure why this has been released now? Rahm has always been non disclosure on this process.

• Video Link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xNykwxI_p0

Halsted & Villagio · #**1210** Posted **Mar 24, 2018, 11:00 PM**

^ Could be a sign of good news... or even bad news... or (and this is the one that I think it is) he is getting out front on this thing in case other cities try to do the same thing. From here on out, Chicago will be the first to build on the Star Trek theme with its video presentation. Others will be mere copycats.

marothisu · #**1211** Posted **Mar 24, 2018, 11:28 PM**

I'm 99.99% sure there is a much longer video and this is just part of the intro or the trailer. It's not really telling anybody anything that isn't already out there in the open - essentially says nothing beyond that Chicago bid on Amazon (duh) and that it's been built by makers and doers (duh - if you know the history at least).

I'd be way more interested to see the full video but there's no chance of that happening anytime soon. This is neither good nor bad news IMO. It would be worse news if all of a sudden we heard city officials talking about the bid and visit in specifics. Until then, it's just Rahm trying to build a small amount of hype after getting the OK from Amazon to release 90 seconds of a larger video.

Halsted & Villagio · #**1212** Posted **Mar 25, 2018, 12:13 AM**

^ Makes sense. We are all guessing at this point but I like this explanation as good as any. Here's hoping it ultimately means good news

I do have a feeling that all parties involved would not have released this video if they did not feel good about the meetings that took place. It could be wishful thinking on my part, but you can almost sense that Rohm was downright giddy when this was released.

the urban politician · #**1213** Posted **Mar 25, 2018, 1:36 PM**

I have no idea what this company is but it’s making the West Loop it’s North American HQ:

https://www.digitalsignagetoday.com/...rs-in-chicago/

the urban politician · #**1214** Posted **Mar 25, 2018, 1:37 PM**

This company moved HQ to Chicago from Korea in 2015 and now announces an expansion of its R&D team:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/ho...Chicago-Global

chicubs111 · #**1215** Posted **Mar 28, 2018, 12:04 AM**

Gives a little insight about Google and there decision which should come very soon...

Where does Chicago stand in the big tech derby?

"Insiders say luring something big from Google, which already has major operations in the city, probably is the best bet. But the company has been awfully quiet about exactly what it's planning, and it could end up distributing the prize among various cities.

Prognosis: good. Timing: soon, quite possibly this spring."

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/artic...ple-facilities

the urban politician · #**1216** Posted **Mar 28, 2018, 1:36 AM**

Boost in federal biotech research money coming to the area as well:

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/artic...-research-here

the urban politician · #**1217** Posted **Mar 29, 2018, 1:36 PM**

CME Group buying NEX for $5.5 billion:

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/artic...5-billion-deal

IrishIllini · #**1218** Posted **Mar 29, 2018, 8:45 PM**

^ Can I get excited about jobs? I haven't seen any mention of it, which is slightly concerning. It'd make sense to retain some level of operations in London, but can we bring most of them to the promised land?

the urban politician · #**1219** Posted **Mar 29, 2018, 9:03 PM**

This is less about jobs and more about bragging rights--Chicago's mightiest bourse continues to expand its reach, now finally getting a major foothold in Europe

left of center · #**1220** Posted **Mar 29, 2018, 9:54 PM**

I remember back before CME bought CBOT, both Chicago exchanges were considered acquisition targets. We were very close to having both exchanges bought out by out of town/country interests. CME in particular was being eyed by Deutsche Bourse, IIRC. Thankfully the stars aligned, the CME board fought off the Krauts and ended up buying CBOT, keeping both organizations firmly in Chicago and cementing Chicago's position as a major financial center, instead of fading to a backwater.

Glad to see the CME is still on top of its game and not resting on its laurels.