Amazon HQ2 thread

[IrishIllini]

I agree Chicago and Philly are most logical choices. The beloved over Philly though .

[Don't Be That Guy]

Originally Posted by Shawn

The word now is, especially after the MIT $1 billion investment in AI announcement, that Amazon will be HQ'ing it's Artificial Intelligence unit in Boston, separate from HQ2.

Definitely no HQ2 in Boston.

People are mistakenly assuming that HQ2 will be in one city.
Considering Amazon's extremely varied operations; the possibility of being broken-up if the US starts enforcing anti-trust laws; and an aversion to creating the public backlash that they've had in Seattle with an overwhelming amount of new jobs, it makes sense to have multiple HQ's. AI in Boston; Audible related in Newark; Echo/Robotics in Pittsburgh; Networking in DC; something in Toronto...

If Amazon is smart they will spread the jobs and associated impacts around.

[F1 Tommy]

Originally Posted by Don't Be That Guy

People are mistakenly assuming that HQ2 will be in one city.
Considering Amazon's extremely varied operations; the possibility of being broken-up if the US starts enforcing anti-trust laws; and an aversion to creating the public backlash that they've had in Seattle with an overwhelming amount of new jobs, it makes sense to have multiple HQ's. AI in Boston; Audible related in Newark; Echo/Robotics in Pittsburgh; Networking in DC; something in Toronto...

If Amazon is smart they will spread the jobs and associated impacts around.

That has been what a lot of people have thought actually. What would that do to the tax breaks based on guaranteed jobs from a lot of the proposal cities ? I wonder if the cities were told of that possible scenario?

[montréaliste]

Originally Posted by F1 Tommy

That has been what a lot of people have thought actually. What would that do to the tax breaks based on guaranteed jobs from a lot of the proposal cities ? I wonder if the cities were told of that possible scenario?

Yes, the second city scenario was staged for a bidding war between North American cities. The idea of having everything under one roof/one city is a ludicrous one in this day and age.

[F1 Tommy]

Originally Posted by montréaliste

Yes, the second city scenario was staged for a bidding war between North American cities. The idea of having everything under one roof/one city is a ludicrous one in this day and age.

No, that would be a third city scenario..

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by JManc

AMZN stock is down nearly 9% as of this post.

In all fairness, to put things in context, the stock market as a whole is experiencing a correction, as is typical for the month of October.

Thus, the fact that its stocks are down is not an indication of Amazon's overall performance, and I'd be shocked if it alone affects a long term business plan such as HQ2.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by montréaliste

Yes, the second city scenario was staged for a bidding war between North American cities. The idea of having everything under one roof/one city is a ludicrous one in this day and age.

The entire HQ2 "competition" is a pathetic circus. Amazon is beyond gigantic and needs thousands of employees in pretty much every major metro (and I'm not talking fufillment centers).

I have no doubt that Bezos knew HQ2 years ago, and it isn't actually a HQ2, just another large job center for which he'll be receiving obscene tax breaks and useful to extract more from locals in actual HQ.

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

I just have a hard timing believing Bezos, who's a strong believer of climate change, would choose a place like Miami.

It may be a — choice now, but is it practical for Amazon's needs (especially in the future)?

Yes, agree. Miami doesn't have a deep tech talent pool, not much in the way of mass transit infrastructure, and it's very prone to natural disasters. If there is something that makes Miami a competitive city over the 19 other places on the list, it certainly hasn't been communicated publicly.

[Doady]

Originally Posted by Mentallect

Toronto will not get HQ2. US politics makes it a death sentence for Amazon. US regulators are already looking to break up Amazon as a monopoly. Trump has criticized Amazon. Bernie Sanders have criticized Amazon. Other US law makers have also condemned Amazon. With all the hoopla over outsourcing US jobs overseas, the most visible company in America after Apple is not placing its HQ2 in Canada. Bezos is donating millions to charity because he is ranked as the least popular CEO in America. Amazon has increased its lobby budget by over 900% in 1 year due to Bezos's unpopularity. Amazon will be in Northern VA, maybe Atlanta or Boston.

Yes, the USA has such a volatile political climate. All the more reason to locate an HQ in Toronto. A more stable and friendly business environment.

[JManc]

Originally Posted by skyscraperpage17

In all fairness, to put things in context, the stock market as a whole is experiencing a correction, as is typical for the month of October.

Thus, the fact that its stocks are down is not an indication of Amazon's overall performance, and I'd be shocked if it alone affects a long term business plan such as HQ2.

Well Amazon also fell short on earnings report yesterday..making its situation at the moment a bit more painful.

[UrbanImpact]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Yes, agree. Miami doesn't have a deep tech talent pool, not much in the way of mass transit infrastructure, and it's very prone to natural disasters. If there is something that makes Miami a competitive city over the 19 other places on the list, it certainly hasn't been communicated publicly.

Miami has a brand new high speed train station, a downtown people mover, an elevated heavy rail line, a commuter train line and one of the fastest densifying downtowns in the country.

Julia Tuttle Causeway, Miami (VISIT FLORIDA) by VISIT FLORIDA

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by UrbanImpact

Miami has a brand new high speed train station, a downtown people mover, an elevated heavy rail line, a commuter train line and one of the fastest densifying downtowns in the country.

What does any of that have to do with where Amazon is gonna put staff?

[UrbanImpact]

Originally Posted by Crawford

What does any of that have to do with where Amazon is gonna put staff?

If you check out the proposal it's in the adjacency of the proposed innovation district.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by UrbanImpact

If you check out the proposal it's in the adjacency of the proposed innovation district.

OK, what does this have to do with anything? Jeff Bezos is gonna open an office based on whether a train station is new or old, or whether there's a nearby people mover with 12 passengers, or whether an area contains a bunch of giant condo boxes for foreigners to park their cash?

[iheartthed]

Originally Posted by UrbanImpact

Miami has a brand new high speed train station, a downtown people mover, an elevated heavy rail line, a commuter train line and one of the fastest densifying downtowns in the country.

I guess that elevated train will be good foresight as the city becomes submerged by rising waters from climate change...

[emathias]

I had a job offer in Miami that would have paid 50% more than what I had been making in Chicago. I spent a month in Miami and quit.

It just didn't feel like a cohesive urban center. Transit was disjointed and very underutilized, traffic was a nightmare, and summer climate was uncomfortable during daylight hours. The MetroMover is a joke. MetroRail has promise, but will require a cultural change to really become an embedded part of the cities useful infrastructure. Getting to/from Miami Beach is a headache, meaning something like 10% of the region is effectively cut off from the rest.

People always say, "You couldn't pay me enough" to do something. Well, when I say that about Miami, I put my money where my mouth is and stayed in Chicago.

[Ragnar]

Originally Posted by Don't Be That Guy

People are mistakenly assuming that HQ2 will be in one city.
Considering Amazon's extremely varied operations; the possibility of being broken-up if the US starts enforcing anti-trust laws; and an aversion to creating the public backlash that they've had in Seattle with an overwhelming amount of new jobs, it makes sense to have multiple HQ's. AI in Boston; Audible related in Newark; Echo/Robotics in Pittsburgh; Networking in DC; something in Toronto...

If Amazon is smart they will spread the jobs and associated impacts around.

Not to mention Amazon Studios putting its headquarters in Culver City:
http://www.etcentric.org/amazon-inks-15-year-lease-of-the-historic-culver-studios-lot/

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by emathias

I had a job offer in Miami that would have paid 50% more than what I had been making in Chicago. I spent a month in Miami and quit.

It just didn't feel like a cohesive urban center. Transit was disjointed and very underutilized, traffic was a nightmare, and summer climate was uncomfortable during daylight hours. The MetroMover is a joke. MetroRail has promise, but will require a cultural change to really become an embedded part of the cities useful infrastructure. Getting to/from Miami Beach is a headache, meaning something like 10% of the region is effectively cut off from the rest.

People always say, "You couldn't pay me enough" to do something. Well, when I say that about Miami, I put my money where my mouth is and stayed in Chicago.

I was wondering if you ended up moving. Sorry to hear you didn't like it, but happy that you are in Chicago!

Miami to me is great for a fun weekend, but I would be annoyed living there myself.

[JManc]

Yeah but it doesn't snow or sleet in Miami and the worst you might have to deal with is fish an alligator out of the pool or walk down to the end of the street and pull your SUV out of a tree after a Cat. 4 hurricane blew through.

[10023]

Originally Posted by UrbanImpact

If you check out the proposal it's in the adjacency of the proposed innovation district.

Oh, there’s a proposed innovation district? That settles it then.