Amazon HQ2 bid - Page 43

Atlanta3000 · #**841** Posted **Jul 8, 2018, 2:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

Below is a summary of all the recent data points I believe unequivocally point to Atlanta being selected as the city to host Amazon's HQ2. The good news is I think this shit show should be wrapped up sometime in the next two months. Exiting times!

1. CIM Group on January 25, 2018 went before the Atlanta Zoning Board and presented their plan for the 27 acre Gulch site that included 9 Million sqft of office, 1500 hotel rooms, 1000 apartment and 2 Million sqft of commercial space. Although CIM Group didn't specifically state this was for Amazon it doesn't take a rocket scientist to connect the dots.
Source: https://www.myajc.com/business/designers...wn-atlanta-gulch/PVZOfNnq3kt5kZJFnheuGL/

2. March 30, 2018 Amazon HQ2 selection committee views sites in Midtown and the Gulch
Source: https://www.ajc.com/business/amazon-tour...dquarters-search/ymLFUn1Dj0hBAK6zF9yehJ/

3. (June 7th, 2018) Text messages and emails obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution show Bottoms (Atlanta's Mayor) engaged in secret talks with Atlanta Public Schools to end the Eastside Tax Allocation District (TAD) to win APS’ support for lucrative incentives for the Gulch project.
Source: https://www.myajc.com/news/local/texts-s...gulch-incentives/KjTjK3JrdBqNgA4Hr8HlnO/

4. CoA issues Request for bids for 9.5 acres of city owned Gulch property. Bids are due July 26th, 2018. Also all bids must include a non-refundable check equal to 5% of the bid price. CoA to publicly announce winning bidder in approximately 2 months.
Source: http://www.cbs46.com/story/38567329/gulch-sets-deadline-for-bids

The Bottom Line: the CoA absolutely would not sell the Gulch property at this juncture unless they had conversations with Amazon and were told Atlanta is either the city they selected or Atlanta is a finalist. Conversely there is no way CIM Group would bid on the Gulch property unless they had conversations with Amazon and have legally binding documents with Amazon outlining their HQ2 development plans. Again, if CIM Group presents a bid they cannot withdrawal their bid after the CoA announces the winner. Therefore CIM Group is financially on the hook. Although I believe CIM Group/Hawks would go forward with a mixed-use entertainment development without Amazon coming to Atlanta, there would be zero reason for them to make a commitment by submitting a bid July 26th with the Amazon decision hanging out there - unless they know something the public doesn't.

Another Data Point - Railroad company Norfolk Southern demolished the historic structure to prepare for the sale of the Gulch

So the CoA and now Norfolk Southern are preparing to sell their Gulch properties. Connect the dots folks!

https://atlanta.curbed.com/2018/6/25/175...ists-terminal-station-interlocking-tower

Martinman · #**842** Posted **Jul 8, 2018, 5:14 PM**

Slight correction :
The state of Georgia is selling the 9.5 acres of the Gulch it owns. And I think all of the things you listed have to be done in order for the city to potentially land Amazon. I bet you would find similar activities in all of the cities in contention.

Atlanta3000 · #**843** Posted **Jul 8, 2018, 6:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martinman

Slight correction :
The state of Georgia is selling the 9.5 acres of the Gulch it owns. And I think all of the things you listed have to be done in order for the city to potentially land Amazon.

The State may be selling it, but the City of Atlanta owns the property.
Details Here:
https://qpublic.schneidercorp.com/Applic...geID=8156&KeyValue=14%200078%20%20LL0074

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martinman

I bet you would find similar activities in all of the cities in contention.

As I stated above, once the CoA announces the winner for the Gulch land, that company is then financially liable to complete the purchase. I cannot imagine other cities doing this same process unless they have spoken to Amazon and were given clarification their city was selected. If each finalist city went through this bidding process there could potentially be 19 companies having bought land in cities that didn't win HQ2.

It doesn't make sense for the the CoA to take this step unless Atlanta is the selected city.

montydawg · #**844** Posted **Jul 8, 2018, 11:24 PM**

Quote:

It doesn't make sense for the the CoA to take this step unless Atlanta is the selected city.

CIM group has been planning this project long before amazon announced their HQ2 project. I’m sure the prospect of HQ2 is pushing things along to accommodate amazon’s aggressive timeline, but I don’t read into all this that amazon has made any decision. Other cities are likely making their projects shovel ready. The fact that CIM is making their project shovel ready will make the location more attractive to amazon, certainly

Martinman · #**845** Posted **Jul 9, 2018, 2:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

The State may be selling it, but the City of Atlanta owns the property.
Details Here:
https://qpublic.schneidercorp.com/Applic...geID=8156&KeyValue=14%200078%20%20LL0074

As I stated above, once the CoA announces the winner for the Gulch land, that company is then financially liable to complete the purchase. I cannot imagine other cities doing this same process unless they have spoken to Amazon and were given clarification their city was selected. If each finalist city went through this bidding process there could potentially be 19 companies having bought land in cities that didn't win HQ2.

It doesn't make sense for the the CoA to take this step unless Atlanta is the selected city.

This shows that the state transferred the title to MARTA for $1 who then transferred it to the city for $1. This was possibly related to the planned MMPT but the bid documents clearly state "owned by the state of Georgia".

You won't find the same circumstances that exist here in every other city that is a finalist for HQ2. In most other cases, the sites are likely already in the hands of the developers as is the case with Philadelphia's Schuylkill Yards, DC's Anacostia Riverfront, and Boston's Suffolk Downs. In the Suffolk Downs link, you will also find "clues" that some have interpreted as signs of Boston could be getting HQ2.

By the way the DC bid is slick and impressive. Several of the proposed sites have their own website.

Atlanta3000 · #**846** Posted **Jul 9, 2018, 11:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martinman

This shows that the state transferred the title to MARTA for $1 who then transferred it to the city for $1. This was possibly related to the planned MMPT but the bid documents clearly state "owned by the state of Georgia".

All of the transactions you mentioned occurred between 7/13/1998 - 04/28/1999 or roughly 19 years ago. Therefore well before the MMPT was proposed.

Martinman · #**847** Posted **Jul 9, 2018, 5:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

All of the transactions you mentioned occurred between 7/13/1998 - 04/28/1999 or roughly 19 years ago. Therefore well before the MMPT was proposed.

I noticed the dates of the transactions. I was under the impression that the MMPT idea has been around for several decades and was sort of revived when the renderings came out around 2010-2012.

Atlanta3000 · #**848** Posted **Jul 9, 2018, 5:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martinman

I noticed the dates of the transactions. I was under the impression that the MMPT idea has been around for several decades and was sort of revived when the renderings came out around 2010-2012.

Quote:

In January 2012, a master plan costing $12.2 million was completed for the Georgia Department of Transportation by Bleakly Advisory Group, Economic Development Research Group and Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., consultants experienced in large-scale developments. The study predicted that if the Atlanta Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal would be built adjacent to The Gulch, that

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gulch_(Atlanta)

Atlanta3000 · #**849** Posted **Jul 9, 2018, 5:06 PM**

Amazon AWS

I just found out I made it to the final round!!!

skyscraperpage17 · #**850** Posted **Jul 9, 2018, 5:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

Amazon AWS

I just found out I made it to the final round!!!

Good luck!

jayden · #**851** Posted **Jul 9, 2018, 6:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

Amazon AWS

I just found out I made it to the final round!!!

Congrats buddy!

smArTaLlone · #**852** Posted **Jul 9, 2018, 8:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

Amazon AWS

I just found out I made it to the final round!!!

trainiac · #**853** Posted **Jul 10, 2018, 3:19 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

All of the transactions you mentioned occurred between 7/13/1998 - 04/28/1999 or roughly 19 years ago. Therefore well before the MMPT was proposed.

The first MMPT proposals I saw were the 1995 GDOT and Heery's proposal. Not much online about it but here's one of the renderings for the combined Amtrak, commuter rail and inter-city bus

Here's a small part of a blog about it
https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/atlantarail/mmpt-1991-1995/

The internet desperately needs a librarian

Atlanta3000 · #**854** Posted **Jul 10, 2018, 1:32 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainiac

The first MMPT proposals I saw were the 1995 GDOT and Heery's proposal. Not much online about it but here's one of the renderings for the combined Amtrak, commuter rail and inter-city bus

Here's a small part of a blog about it
https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/atlantarail/mmpt-1991-1995/

The internet desperately needs a librarian

This proposal was not to build the MMPT at the Gulch site. Interesting nonetheless. Thanks for posting.

Atlanta3000 · #**855** Posted **Jul 10, 2018, 1:36 PM**

Forbes - Amazon HQ2 Housing Showdown: Atlanta Versus Raleigh

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alyyale/201...using-showdown-atlanta-versus-raleigh/2/

Quote:

Atlanta Comes Out On Top

According to Sean Black, co-founder and CEO of Knock.com, Atlanta offers future HQ2 employees the best shot at both finding housing and being able to afford it.

“From a housing affordability and availability standpoint, there’s no question that Atlanta is a more attractive option for the new Amazon headquarters,” Black said. “In the current market, there’s just no way all those employees would be able to find homes in Raleigh right now.”

Artemis · #**856** Posted **Jul 10, 2018, 2:28 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

Forbes - Amazon HQ2 Housing Showdown: Atlanta Versus Raleigh

https://www.forbes.com/sites/alyyale/201...using-showdown-atlanta-versus-raleigh/2/

Did I miss something? This article mentions that Amazon officially narrowed down to 10 cities.

Atlanta3000 · #**857** Posted **Jul 10, 2018, 3:03 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Artemis

Did I miss something? This article mentions that Amazon officially narrowed down to 10 cities.

Holy Snikes I totally missed that Eagle Eyes!!! I just sent a tweet to Forbes and asked for a confirmation.

Martinman · #**858** Posted **Jul 10, 2018, 3:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by trainiac

The first MMPT proposals I saw were the 1995 GDOT and Heery's proposal. Not much online about it but here's one of the renderings for the combined Amtrak, commuter rail and inter-city bus

Here's a small part of a blog about it
https://scholarblogs.emory.edu/atlantarail/mmpt-1991-1995/

The internet desperately needs a librarian

That's what I thought. I only had a vague memory of some bits of news about the MMPT until those 2012 renderings.

OTPandProud1974 · #**859** Posted **Jul 10, 2018, 4:27 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

Holy Snikes I totally missed that Eagle Eyes!!! I just sent a tweet to Forbes and asked for a confirmation.

My guess is they'll be needing to run a correction. Looks like someone typed 1 instead of 2.

That said, I have some personal speculation I would love your thoughts on. Do you think there's a chance AMZ is awaiting the results of the Georgia governor election to announce where it'll move? Wondering if Cagle wins, AMZ will go elsewhere....

montydawg · #**860** Posted **Jul 10, 2018, 4:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTPandProud1974

That said, I have some personal speculation I would love your thoughts on. Do you think there's a chance AMZ is awaiting the results of the Georgia governor election to announce where it'll move? Wondering if Cagle wins, AMZ will go elsewhere....

Yes. Cagle was the one who crafted the Delta punishment for political gain and I’m sure Amazon does not want to work with him at all. Amazon remembers the Seattle homeless bill