Amazon HQ2 - Page 39

freerover · #**761** Posted **Mar 16, 2018, 3:44 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by MichaelB

DELL: not so much now, but 20 Years ago, if Dell had a bad year.... we all had a bad year.

Thoughts? ( Civil thoughts......)

That's why I think it's so important to attract a multitude of different businesses especially ones that aren't dependent on the local economy. I think we still have way to high a percentage of jobs in Austin that are based on servicing other people and businesses in Austin. You end up with a domino effect.

MichaelB · #**762** Posted **Mar 16, 2018, 4:19 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Novacek

In the case of UT, that's mostly because they're a state entity, and exempt from many local regulations (e.g. zoning).

I get it. But they tend to ignore their impact on the city and neighbors.
Which is a shame.
Full disclosure. I use to be on faculty and am a neighbor!
So I've seen how they operate up close and personal.

The ATX · #**763** Posted **Mar 16, 2018, 7:14 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Novacek

Without an actual quote from the Mayor's office, it's really hard to tell if it didn't happen or if Adler is just adhering to the non-disclosure agreement.

This is from that KVUE link you posted. You are not counting this as an actual quote from the Mayor's office?

Quote:

KVUE reached out to Austin Mayor Steve Adler's office, which responded that the mayor has not had contact with Amazon.

freerover · #**764** Posted **Mar 16, 2018, 7:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

This is from that KVUE link you posted. You are not counting this as an actual quote from the Mayor's office?

It might be because of the distance they have to keep between the chamber and the council concerning Amazon's bid. It's a touchy subject politically.

The ATX · #**765** Posted **Mar 16, 2018, 7:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by N90

There's an Atlanta poster that literally responds to every post in the main HQ2 thread. He acts like its his job to respond to everything like he's Amazon's spokesman. He's even shown up in this thread.

Can you say desperate and thirsty much?

That poster and some from Chicago post as if Bezos is making the HQ2 decision based on who "wins" the location debate on SSP. It's bizarre.

Novacek · #**766** Posted **Mar 16, 2018, 7:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

This is from that KVUE link you posted. You are not counting this as an actual quote from the Mayor's office?

Since it's not a quote? No, I'm not.

I'm just saying (given the fact that we _know_ there's been a non-disclosure requirement) that there's a world of ways to couch statements.

"I can't report any such meeting"
"No such meeting appears on the mayor's schedule"

The ATX · #**767** Posted **Mar 16, 2018, 7:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freerover

It might be because of the distance they have to keep between the chamber and the council concerning Amazon's bid. It's a touchy subject politically.

It could also mean the Mayor hasn't had contact, but members of his staff have.

N90 · #**768** Posted **Apr 9, 2018, 11:18 PM**

https://mobile.twitter.com/TheBeerKey/status/983475944152338432

Does this mean anything? Is IBM anywhere near one of the HQ2 sites?

eguidry · #**769** Posted **Apr 9, 2018, 11:36 PM**

Amazon has some offices in The Domain which is right across from the old IBM Broadmoor campus. They've been there a while so this sign might just be a new addition. Looks to be 11501 Alterra parkway. Not HQ2 related unfortunately.

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.4010415,...yEsO3H-Qgyw-pl23qrPRA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

http://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/am...e-in-austin_20180316004215559/1049346915

AusTxDevelopment · #**770** Posted **Apr 10, 2018, 12:25 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by N90

https://mobile.twitter.com/TheBeerKey/status/983475944152338432

Does this mean anything? Is IBM anywhere near one of the HQ2 sites?

IBM is at Broadmoor, Brandywine's officially-submitted HQ2 contender, and Broadmoor is across the street from the Domain, where Amazon has ~150,000 square feet of office space that they just moved into. I'm sure the twitter-er was speculating given the press about Brandywine's Broadmoor being one of Austin's HQ2 contender sites.

Brandywine is moving forward with permits and approvals for adding about 2M square feet to Broadmoor, but I'm sure they'd switch gears back to the proposed 8M square feet if they made the best-and-final list for HQ2. To get 500,000 square feet at Broadmoor for Amazon to take down immediately, they'd have to kick IBM out of half of the existing buildings at Broadmoor. Or, possibly, relocate IBM to some of Brandywine's other properties. Who knows.

AustinGoesVertical · #**771** Posted **Apr 10, 2018, 2:09 PM**

I’m throwing my hat into the prediction ring.

I think this is a three city race:

- Boston
- Austin
- DC metro

I think Texas’ income tax and Austin’s cultural fit are a much bigger deal than people are giving credit for. Amazon has a market cap in the half a trillion dollar range. Incentives are gravvy, not a driver.

loonytoony · #**772** Posted **Apr 10, 2018, 3:59 PM**

Thoughts on if this could be part of the puzzle?

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/...m-peek-inside-robinson-ranch-photos.html

urbancore · #**773** Posted **Apr 10, 2018, 4:04 PM**

I highly doubt it. Not urban enough.

Slow day at ABJ + wishful thinking by the ranches rep= free/good press for the future sale/development.

Sigaven · #**774** Posted **Apr 10, 2018, 4:09 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dcbrickley

I highly doubt it. Not urban enough.

Slow day at ABJ + wishful thinking by the ranches rep= free/good press for the future sale/development.

This site and Broadmoor, I don't understand why they're getting so much attention. They are not urban enough for what Amazon says they want and I'd think they'd pick another city before picking one of these places in austin.

urbancore · #**775** Posted **Apr 10, 2018, 4:20 PM**

https://realestate.usnews.com/places/rankings/best-places-to-live

Number 1! Check the methodology, looks like try to get it right.
Ill bet this IS important to them. That and much cheaper labor than the other “real” contenders.

We vs us · #**776** Posted **Apr 10, 2018, 4:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

I’m throwing my hat into the prediction ring.

I think this is a three city race:

- Boston
- Austin
- DC metro

I think Texas’ income tax and Austin’s cultural fit are a much bigger deal than people are giving credit for. Amazon has a market cap in the half a trillion dollar range. Incentives are gravvy, not a driver.

Yep, agreed. It's not a standard corporate relo/HQ bid, and they certainly don't need HQ2 to be a source of, or offset for, general revenue. Culture, and being able to long-term attract the best and brightest are almost certainly the heaviest weighted criteria. The preference for public trans, the preference for urban settings -- those really only support the idea that their primary concern is culture/attractiveness to talent.

GoldenBoot · #**777** Posted **Apr 10, 2018, 7:13 PM**

I hope I am very wrong...but, I've never thought Austin was a truly serious contender in this "race."

I love this city and have lived here all my life. But, we just cannot compete with cities 3+ times our metro size. And for the most part, have more competent and business-friendly local (governmental) leadership.

I think it's D.C., Boston, Atlanta or Dallas.

hookem · #**778** Posted **Apr 10, 2018, 7:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoldenBoot

I love this city and have lived here all my life. But, we just cannot compete with cities 3+ times our metro size. And for the most part, have more competent and business-friendly local (governmental) leadership.

I agree we can't compete with alpha cities like that... of course. But I've never been convinced this is a real competition.

I think Amazon may be fearing some backlash from this whole process. You have it from people in certain cities who don't think they should be doling out the huge incentives (like Austin, Denver, Indy) and you have the potential backlash from cities if they DON'T get chosen (I'm thinking Atlanta) who will claim the whole thing was a sham... especially if they pick Austin.

I'm not sure why Austin is such a popular secondary campus location (Apple, Oracle, Samsung)... but it is. So I'd never count us out.

paul78701 · #**779** Posted **Apr 12, 2018, 9:19 PM**

Adler's video pitch in CNBC's mock HQ2 competition:

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/13/dash-for-amazon-cast-your-vote.html

paul78701 · #**780** Posted **Apr 12, 2018, 9:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by paul78701

Adler's video pitch in CNBC's mock HQ2 competition:

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/13/dash-for-amazon-cast-your-vote.html

Here's the direct YouTube link if you don't care to vote above:
https://youtu.be/9sBBINBjDp4