Amazon HQ2 bid

[Dale]

Originally Posted by jpk1292000

It’s gonna be DC.

^ Steeling himself for disappointment. Will still be disappointed if it goes to DC.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by wonshirim

How does this relate to HQ2?

It doesn't.

[NickH]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

It doesn't.

I know DC is a popular choice, but I just don't see that one at all on my radar. Too many landmines with that decision.

[Atlanta3000]

Gwinnett BOC to vote on MARTA contract, referendum - Special called meeting set for Wednesday

Anyone care to guess why Gwinnett is having a "Special" meeting Wednesday? Prior to last September's HQ2 announcement, when did you ever hear Gwinnett discuss mass transit, much less holding a special meeting a couple of weeks before Amazon is expected to make an announcement?

Connect the dots.

https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/...88e4204-2b94-5475-948f-5b038343fb1f.html

[ATLswede]

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

Gwinnett BOC to vote on MARTA contract, referendum - Special called meeting set for Wednesday

Anyone care to guess why Gwinnett is having a "Special" meeting Wednesday? Prior to last September's HQ2 announcement, when did you ever hear Gwinnett discuss mass transit, much less holding a special meeting a couple of weeks before Amazon is expected to make an announcement?

Connect the dots.

https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/local/...88e4204-2b94-5475-948f-5b038343fb1f.html

You've got me cautiously optimistic and I agree that the Econ Development role in DC has nothing to do with HQ2. But to me there is a big hole in the theory that all these smaller jurisdictions taking action are indicative of behind-the-scenes talks with Amazon. And that is the notion that even some county commissioners know about HQ2 coming to Atlanta but none of this has leaked yet. Seems almost impossible to me that any secret, no matter how important, can be maintained if more than a dozen or so people know about it.

More promising is the fact that even country fried rube Kemp said that the tax breaks for Delta were correct. That, to me, suggests that someone pulled him aside and said he better start sending the right signals cuz this fish is still very much on the hook. The Gov and City would know by now if HQ2 definitely was not coming, and nobody would bother to get Kemp's message straight.

[Atlanta3000]

As of July 10th, Alpharetta's Development Authority was having meetings about HQ2

[Atlanta3000]

Originally Posted by ATLswede

You've got me cautiously optimistic and I agree that the Econ Development role in DC has nothing to do with HQ2. But to me there is a big hole in the theory that all these smaller jurisdictions taking action are indicative of behind-the-scenes talks with Amazon. And that is the notion that even some county commissioners know about HQ2 coming to Atlanta but none of this has leaked yet. Seems almost impossible to me that any secret, no matter how important, can be maintained if more than a dozen or so people know about it.

More promising is the fact that even country fried rube Kemp said that the tax breaks for Delta were correct. That, to me, suggests that someone pulled him aside and said he better start sending the right signals cuz this fish is still very much on the hook. The Gov and City would know by now if HQ2 definitely was not coming, and nobody would bother to get Kemp's message straight.

Even if Amazon goes to the CoA, Amazon will attract a lot of companies to other parts of the metro. That and all of these politicians now getting behind MARTA are probably buying up land near future stations.

[Ric 0_0]

Alpharetta and all other counties would definitely all benefit. I can see why Alpharetta is having a community meeting. It has one of the best highschools in GA, great shooping (North Point, Avalon), and it has a mix between somewhat urban and suburban (DT Alpharetta {all of yall are sleeping on this} and Avalon.

[wonshirim]

Maybe this might be old news, but Jeff Bezos is scheduled to speak at the Economic Club of Washington DC in Sept 13, which is roughly a year after the HQ2 search began. There have been many important announcements at this venue because guests are often powerful DC-area private and public sector leaders, with many government contractors and influential think tank leaders. For example, Boeing unveiled their multi-million dollar donation to the Kennedy Center at this venue.

Considering Amazon's penchant for widely publicizing positive news, I think we need to consider HOW they're going to announce the winner of the HQ2 race. I don't think the announcement will come simply in a mundane press conference. I am absolutely sure Jeff Bezos will be at the winning city on the very day the announcement is made.

Where is Jeff Bezos travelling to? That'll be the smoking gun if we can ever find one before the official announcement.

[Historic]

Originally Posted by wonshirim

Maybe this might be old news, but Jeff Bezos is scheduled to speak at the Economic Club of Washington DC in Sept 13, which is roughly a year after the HQ2 search began. There have been many important announcements at this venue because guests are often powerful DC-area private and public sector leaders, with many government contractors and influential think tank leaders. For example, Boeing unveiled their multi-million dollar donation to the Kennedy Center at this venue.

Considering Amazon's penchant for widely publicizing positive news, I think we need to consider HOW they're going to announce the winner of the HQ2 race. I don't think the announcement will come simply in a mundane press conference. I am absolutely sure Jeff Bezos will be at the winning city on the very day the announcement is made.

Where is Jeff Bezos travelling to? That'll be the smoking gun if we can ever find one before the official announcement.

I think you just answered your own question. :/

[Atlanta3000]

Originally Posted by wonshirim

Maybe this might be old news, but Jeff Bezos is scheduled to speak at the Economic Club of Washington DC in Sept 13, which is roughly a year after the HQ2 search began. There have been many important announcements at this venue because guests are often powerful DC-area private and public sector leaders, with many government contractors and influential think tank leaders. For example, Boeing unveiled their multi-million dollar donation to the Kennedy Center at this venue.

Considering Amazon's penchant for widely publicizing positive news, I think we need to consider HOW they're going to announce the winner of the HQ2 race. I don't think the announcement will come simply in a mundane press conference. I am absolutely sure Jeff Bezos will be at the winning city on the very day the announcement is made.

Where is Jeff Bezos travelling to? That'll be the smoking gun if we can ever find one before the official announcement.

When Amazon is going to announce their HQ2 site, there will be a Major Press Conference with State and City officials and the media. I can guarantee you it will not be at a non public forum.

[Calidreaming01]

I really don't see how that job posting would be a smoking gun that it's DC. Amazon is a big corporation and is pushing facets of its business across the nation all the time. I remember when everyone got in a tizzy last year over the lobbyist registration in GA, and it turned out not to be HQ2 related at all.

Originally Posted by atlwarrior

I see this move by Gov. Deal as a win for HQ2 and evidence that underlying talks are still happening exclusively with Georgia.

"Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed an executive order Monday to stop collecting sales tax on jet fuel effective Wednesday, a tax the legislature kept in place this year to penalize Delta Air Lines.
The Georgia legislature debated dropping the 4% sales and use tax on jet fuel this year as part of a broader tax overhaul. But lawmakers kept the tax in place in retaliation for Delta halting a discount program with the National Rifle Association.
Deal noted that Georgia airports generate $62 billion in economic activity each year, with flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport supporting $11 billion in investment and 42,000 jobs across the state."

I totally agree.

Also, almost immediately after his win, Brian Kemp stated that he was going to let Gov. Deal handle the HQ2 negotiations and he would take a back seat. If Atlanta doesn't have it already, it is definitely in the thick of things for candidates to be talking about it in such concrete terms.

[scania]

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

When Amazon is going to announce their HQ2 site, there will be a Major Press Conference with State and City officials and the media. I can guarantee you it will not be at a non public forum.

I have to ask, how is that when it come to DC and NoVa, it’s never about Amazon, no matter how big the news. But when it comes to Atlanta, no matter how small it is, it’s all about Amazon??? There’s a point where at least on paper, you can’t be so bias...unless you already know. But even with Apple, there would be a ton of leaks. Teach me, persuade me, I’m on your side. I want Atlanta to get Amazon. Unless Amazon is going to rape the city. That’s one thing I’m afraid of happening here.

[BlueSangha]

^^^you can’t rape the willing^^^

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by BlueSangha

^^^you can’t rape the willing^^^

[Mentallect]

Originally Posted by NickH

I know DC is a popular choice, but I just don't see that one at all on my radar. Too many landmines with that decision.

DC, the city will never get Amazon HQ2. Northern Virginia, less than 0.5 miles from DC proper is the only location for Amazon should they choose this region. We know about their Web Service expansion already. Thousands of jobs are coming. Atlanta, a possible landing spot does not have an extensive metro, but has lower priced housing. Airports are a wash: Atlanta has 1 massive, but DC has 3, 2 international, one national. Amazon has already made its selection. The rest is just Amazon gathering site information for future projects.

[Atlanta3000]

Originally Posted by Mentallect

DC, the city will never get Amazon HQ2. Northern Virginia, less than 0.5 miles from DC proper is the only location for Amazon should they choose this region. We know about their Web Service expansion already. Thousands of jobs are coming. Atlanta, a possible landing spot does not have an extensive metro, but has lower priced housing. Airports are a wash: Atlanta has 1 massive, but DC has 3, 2 international, one national. Amazon has already made its selection. The rest is just Amazon gathering site information for future projects.

What's the major tech college in DC? Can Amazon pull transportation and logistics talent from companies like UPS and Delta? I grew up in Williamsburg, VA and lived in DC for 10 years after college. I know the the strengths and weaknesses of both Atlanta and DC Metro and I would bet my like they are coming here.

[AlwaysMoving]

All of the transit talk is an attempt to show Amazon that metro Atlanta is finally serious about updating their transit system and working to solve the car traffic. If it was a done deal we would see $ being allocated to big projects.

[wonshirim]

Originally Posted by Mentallect

DC, the city will never get Amazon HQ2. Northern Virginia, less than 0.5 miles from DC proper is the only location for Amazon should they choose this region. We know about their Web Service expansion already. Thousands of jobs are coming. Atlanta, a possible landing spot does not have an extensive metro, but has lower priced housing. Airports are a wash: Atlanta has 1 massive, but DC has 3, 2 international, one national. Amazon has already made its selection. The rest is just Amazon gathering site information for future projects.

I agree. If I were Amazon, I would keep playing with candidate cities to squeeze out more data like future transit plans, development milestones, or population growth projections. Especially with cities that are definitely on the rise like Atlanta.

I did a Google Maps search of Jeff Bezos' $23 million DC home to Arlington VA's proposed site and the DC Yards as noted here (https://www.bisnow.com/washington-dc/new...g-in-dc-a-potential-hq2-signal-91253#ath). Both locations are about a 7 mile drive from his new mansion.

Now that I think about it, won't Jeff Bezos and Amazon execs buy real estate in the city they choose for HQ2 right now? If Atlanta were to be chosen, I would expect Amazon execs to he scouting homes. I mean, they're not going to live in small Midtown apartments. It would also be a wise real estate investment too. Does anyone know about this?

[Atlanta3000]

Originally Posted by wonshirim

I agree. If I were Amazon, I would keep playing with candidate cities to squeeze out more data like future transit plans, development milestones, or population growth projections. Especially with cities that are definitely on the rise like Atlanta.

I did a Google Maps search of Jeff Bezos' $23 million DC home to Arlington VA's proposed site and the DC Yards as noted here (https://www.bisnow.com/washington-dc/new...g-in-dc-a-potential-hq2-signal-91253#ath). Both locations are about a 7 mile drive from his new mansion.

Now that I think about it, won't Jeff Bezos and Amazon execs buy real estate in the city they choose for HQ2 right now? If Atlanta were to be chosen, I would expect Amazon execs to he scouting homes. I mean, they're not going to live in small Midtown apartments. It would also be a wise real estate investment too. Does anyone know about this?

Who says he hasn't? You do realize most luxury houses are bought through LLC's so you can't tell who the buyer is.