Amazon HQ2 bid

[Atlanta3000]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

Again, as several others have stated, it's not a stretch to assume they're hyping up the Norfolk Southern HQ relocation as leverage to ram through HQ2 incentives that might not pass otherwise, and it's also not a stretch to assume they're doing this *without* Amazon having actually selected Atlanta.

It is absolutely 1000% a f'en stretch to assume our Governor, Mayor and heard of lawyers representing the Public interest, could be bamboozled by CIM Group, NFS or Amazon for Billions of dollars. If there was even any merit to this argument the City Council should be spending their time focused on how to impeach the Governor and Mayor and not the Gulch Agreement. Cheese n' flippin' Rice S-17.

We have now hit Peak Crazy!

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

It is absolutely 1000% a f'en stretch to assume our Governor, Mayor and heard of lawyers representing the Public interest, could be bamboozled by CIM Group, NFS or Amazon for Billions of dollars. If there was even any merit to this argument the City Council should be spending their time focused on how to impeach the Governor and Mayor and not the Gulch Agreement. Cheese n' flippin' Rice S-17.

We have now hit Peak Crazy!

I don't see it as anyone being bamboozled. I think they all know what they're doing.

CIM is getting their gigantic handout (basically equivalent to the total cost to build their project), the governor / mayor is getting their very generous incentives to give to Amazon baked in so (if in fact they do choose the city) they can brag about their effort to land the economic score of the century, and Norfolk Southern finally gets to sale unprofitable land they've been trying to offload for the longest.

That's politics and crony capitalism for ya. Everyone wins except (maybe) the citizens paying for it all with their tax dollars. It is indeed "peak crazy."

BTW, I wouldn't trust any lawyer as far as I can throw them, public or not.

[Mentallect]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

I don't see it as anyone being bamboozled. I think they all know what they're doing.

CIM is getting their gigantic handout (basically equivalent to the total cost to build their project), the governor / mayor is getting their very generous incentives to give to Amazon baked in so (if in fact they do choose the city) they can brag about their effort to land the economic score of the century, and Norfolk Southern finally gets to sale unprofitable land they've been trying to offload for the longest.

That's politics and crony capitalism for ya. Everyone wins except (maybe) the citizens paying for it all with their tax dollars. It is indeed "peak crazy."

BTW, I wouldn't trust any lawyer as far as I can throw them, public or not.

Crony capitalism is why I do not want Amazon here if we must give them incentives (welfare).

[jct3]

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

The casino talk, the Stitch, the mini-Stitch, 675 West Peachtree, Carl Icahn, 6 major office proposals in Midtown, MARTA expansion, all of the new parks, CoA $1 Billion commitment for affordable housing...etc. all of these things are connected to HQ2. Surely you don't need me to paint that picture.

Some of those things have been talked about long before anyone heard of HQ2. The only tangible thing so far (and another guy seemingly confirmed) is an LOI for 675 West Peachtree. But according to this:
http://commercialrealestate101.blogspot.com/2012/01/letter-of-intent-vs-agreement-to-lease.html

there is nothing binding about that.

I hope you're right.

[DigIntoIt]

Before handing over billions of dollars to CIM perhaps some enterprising journalist out there should do some digging into their background. Perhaps maybe look at their political contributions too...just saying.

https://www.wnyc.org/story/trump-kushner-little-known-business-partner/
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-developer-contributions-20170105-story.html

Something is rotten out there in the Gulch.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by jct3

Some of those things have been talked about long before anyone heard of HQ2. The only tangible thing so far (and another guy seemingly confirmed) is an LOI for 675 West Peachtree. But according to this:
http://commercialrealestate101.blogspot.com/2012/01/letter-of-intent-vs-agreement-to-lease.html

there is nothing binding about that.

I hope you're right.

LOIs are not binding, that is correct.

It is literally the equivalent of a gentleman's handshake.

But again, how do we know it's not for a different project besides HQ2, like what's happening in Vancouver?

[MARTAisSmarta]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

LOIs are not binding, that is correct.

It is literally the equivalent of a gentleman's handshake.

But again, how do we know it's not for a different project besides HQ2, like what's happening in Vancouver?

There's often a break up fee of sorts included though. Granted, I don't think they care about the cost of it.

[Dale]

For those of you who are hardening in your skepticism, ostensibly to avoid disappointment, if Atlanta is not chosen ... you'll be disappointed, nonetheless.

So, why not believe ?

[jct3]

Originally Posted by Dale

For those of you who are hardening in your skepticism, ostensibly to avoid disappointment, if Atlanta is not chosen ... you'll be disappointed, nonetheless.

So, why not believe ?

My belief that's it going to DC is not grounded in some desire to avoid disappointment; it's based on the available evidence, which now more than ever, suggests DC.

Will I be disappointed? Yes, I want to see it come here. I hope ATL3K is correct and that I'm wrong.

[skyscraperpage17]

delete

[Dale]

Originally Posted by jct3

My belief that's it going to DC is not grounded in some desire to avoid disappointment; it's based on the available evidence, which now more than ever, suggests DC.

Will I be disappointed? Yes, I want to see it come here. I hope ATL3K is correct and that I'm wrong.

It may well go to DC. But what evidence, let alone 'more than ever' evidence ?

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by ugadawgs200

The short answer is YES. They are building a $500mm platform above the rail lines. Several of the rail lines are not even active right now and were built for when Atlanta was at a lower grade. It's in CIM's interest to include transit. As an Atlanta citizen, trust me don't be worried about this. It's not an end all be all for an MMPT. The facts are that the MMPT as proposed is beautiful and wonderful, but simply not practical or economical with the model they proposed. If there was any chance it was an economic success, Norfolk Southern would not be offloading their rights to the land and their space. CIM is building a platform at street level which keeps the possibility of an MMPT. The reality is that there probably will be additional transit to the site but it won't be as grand as that grand vision...that was simply a concept and amazing video but there is no money to pay for it and beyond that, absolutely no way that the proposed concept MMPT would generate any sales tax.

I am a longtime lurker here and on the other boards and don't post, but I can't sit quietly anymore knowing that there's a chance that city council could balk at this deal. Have the politics been played perfectly? probably not. But that is not CIM's fault. This is truly the only chance Atlanta has to fill the Gulch, and fill it with a high quality development AND potentially a city changing corporate relocation (or 2+)

PS: Don't be put off by the original renderings if you weren't jazzed. Trust the process

After being pressed by City Council on Thursday, CIM finally confirmed the same thing you did here (to clear up "not a consideration" statement).

Developer: Gulch deal doesn’t preclude commuter rail possibilities

https://atlanta.curbed.com/2018/9/13/17855018/developer-gulch-deal-commuter-rail-regional-transit

[Mentallect]

Originally Posted by Dale

It may well go to DC. But what evidence, let alone 'more than ever' evidence ?

Earlier this year, it looked like ATL was the frontrunner, but that was a red herring.

[Triptychtwo]

Originally Posted by Mentallect

Earlier this year, it looked like ATL was the frontrunner, but that was a red herring.

How the fuck is it a red herring if you have no idea where it's going?

[Mentallect]

Originally Posted by Triptychtwo

How the fuck is it a red herring if you have no idea where it's going?

Have you ever heard the term "in the room where it happens?" I have been in the room. People like you play checkers when Amazon is playing chess. Economists, real estate professionals, data miners, advanced analytics, gambling professionals, political pundits, etc. see the obvious.

[NYbyWAYofGA]

Originally Posted by Atlanta3000

To be clear, are you saying the simpler explanation why the Governor sent KLB to plead to the City Council last Tuesday to sign the Agreement or pass without approval on an Agreement which includes Billions in incentives is because Governor Deal and Mayor KLM are laser focused on NFS bringing their HQ and 1400 jobs to ATL?

Who's KLM....?

[Triptychtwo]

Originally Posted by Mentallect

haplens? wgen

[Street Advocate]

Originally Posted by NYbyWAYofGA

Who's KLM....?

The mayor, Keisha Lance Bottoms.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by NYbyWAYofGA

Who's KLM....?

Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by DigIntoIt

Before handing over billions of dollars to CIM perhaps some enterprising journalist out there should do some digging into their background. Perhaps maybe look at their political contributions too...just saying.

https://www.wnyc.org/story/trump-kushner-little-known-business-partner/
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-developer-contributions-20170105-story.html

Something is rotten out there in the Gulch.

Thanks for posting. I'd not heard about any of this before.