Amazon HQ2 thread

[BrownTown]

Originally Posted by afiggatt

Yea, the potential job numbers for Crystal City and Northern Virginia & LIC show that Amazon appears to project more than 50K total between the 2 locations in 15-20 years. But any job # forecast that far out is based on Amazon continuing on its current growth path and who the heck knows how successful Amazon will be in 15 years?

1. If you ask me these job numbers were just pulled out of someone's ass to try and get the most subsidies possible. I doubt we'll see those numbers any time soon in even the best of circumstances. Plus, like you say, 15 years from now this could all be very different. It wasn't that long ago that eBay was the big dog and Amazon was the one nipping at their heals. In 15 years who knows what company will be on top (very possibly one we've hardly even heard of yet). Honestly the whole Amazon thing still sort of takes me aback as I've never really used them so I sort of don't get the whole allure of Amazon to begin with. I'm a pretty minimalistic person though so I think that explains why I don't use them as I don't buy much aside from the necessities to begin with.

[fleonzo]

Originally Posted by LA21st

Good for NYC and DC. Just don't see the need for overly boasting here. That's just me .

Don't pay any attention to these boasters....for every one of them there's at least one who's bitching about the whole. I live here in LIC, NYC and I still haven't figured out if this is good or bad, only that reading the whole thing over the past two days has given me a big headache.

[skyscraperpage17]

Originally Posted by BrownTown

Are you trolling or what?

That must be it.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by Mentallect

I believe most of the jobs will be created in NVA as opposed to NYC, but since NYC will give Amazon 3 times more money for each job, that could change.

No. Read the signed agreements. The NYC agreement specifies 40k+ jobs for NYC, averaging 150k+ salary, in order to receive incentives.

And there is no money being given to Amazon; NY State is reducing the tax burden from nation's highest (by far) to normal levels. Amazon will still be paying much more in LIC than in NoVa because it's a much higher tax jurisdiction.

And Amazon is required to provide space for schools, cultural and community organizations and public open space, as well as pay market costs for land.

[Mentallect]

Originally Posted by Crawford

No. Read the signed agreements. The NYC agreement specifies 40k+ jobs for NYC, averaging 150k+ salary, in order to receive incentives.

And there is no money being given to Amazon; NY State is reducing the tax burden from nation's highest (by far) to normal levels. Amazon will still be paying much more in LIC than in NoVa because it's a much higher tax jurisdiction.

And Amazon is required to provide space for schools, cultural and community organizations and public open space, as well as pay market costs for land.

The agreement calls for 25,000 jobs in each city. I read the summary, and you apparently read something else.

[Mentallect]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

STFU up with this. New York is not the capital of the world. You repeated it like 3 times in other posts, troll, what is your obsession with this?

NYC is not the capital of the world.

NYC is the media capital. Some can argue it is now again the Banking capital after London's Brexit hit.

NYC is not looked upon much more favorably than Washington, DC proper...whic of course is the political capital of the free world.

NYC residents, especially lifers, often believe the universe revolves around their city. This is strange when NYC residents from different burrows dislike each other.

[Mentallect]

Originally Posted by fleonzo

Don't pay any attention to these boasters....for every one of them there's at least one who's bitching about the whole. I live here in LIC, NYC and I still haven't figured out if this is good or bad, only that reading the whole thing over the past two days has given me a big headache.

There is a continuum from horrid to exceptionally good. The price was too high for me in NVA, and it costs us much less per job than it did for NYC. 1.7 billion dollars for your metro system would be a win. This is a slight loss now, but can break even if Amazon brings 25,000 jobs paying $150K on average a year for 20 years. Good luck with that.

[KB0679]

Originally Posted by Mentallect

NYC is not looked upon much more favorably than Washington, DC proper...whic of course is the political capital of the free world.

I'd disagree with that, the description of DC you gave being the primary reason.

[RCDC]

At least Bezos is getting a helipad out of the deal.

[Mentallect]

Originally Posted by chris08876

I'm basing it on the projections. 25-40k jobs. Just speculation on my part, not hubris. IDK either, again, just speculation.

Also, the development of 4-8 mil-sq ft as a projected range which may fluctuate. When you look at the parcels assembled along the waterfront, the idea that they brought Sunnyside up in the press conference, sure is a lot of prospective talk going on.

In the press conference, Amazon's VP even said that the locations were a factor of the employees preferences to live.

With the potential sites in LIC and the surroundings available or slated to be developed, the towers currently rising to meet any sort of future demand for living, I think the conditions favor LIC for it to be larger VERSUS CC which would be very high in leasing. Unless they buy out certain buildings.

I doubt Amazon would want to long term lease space, but own their own property. Become a large landlord per say. Similar to their Seattle HQ. The lease at 1 Court Square would be temporary as they would want to own, to add to their fixed assets. From a net worth perspective, your losing money if you lease. Long term, property ownership is paramount.

You are aware Crystal City has enough available office space today for all 25,000 workers without any additional development? No, I did not think you were aware.

[fleonzo]

Originally Posted by YSL

And you know this..how? Are you an Amazon executive?

You don't know any of this. None of us know which city was #1 or which was #2. NYC could have been #1 all along. The only reason DMV was always talked about is was on the east coast, wapo and because 'Jeff Bezos has a house there!". Yea, 'celebrities' owning homes in DC is not usual so it's the talk of the town, but Bezos has had a penthouse in NYC since 1999 and has been buying out his neighboring apartments decades later to create what must be a sprawling mansion sized apartment. From what I'm reading read, NYC home was one of his first splurges after he got rich. He clearly loves the place. Not many people know that because people there don't really care and it is to be expected that someone like him has a residence in NYC. NYC could have been #1 all along with Nova as #2. Or Nova could have been #1 and NYC was last minute. Or they were both planned from the beginning.

WE. DON'T. KNOW.

Exactly! Well put!!

[LA21st]

Originally Posted by The North One

Wait a second... You're that JR Ewing user, aren't you? lol

nm

[pico44]

Originally Posted by The North One

Wait a second... You're that JR Ewing user, aren't you? lol

Yeah, I think he probably is. He is legend in the skyscraper forum world, but his schtick has never gone over well here at SSP, and he gets banned pretty quickly. I think he is great fun. He likes to stir things up, that's for sure.

[fleonzo]

Originally Posted by chris08876

I'm basing it on the projections. 25-40k jobs. Just speculation on my part, not hubris. IDK either, again, just speculation.

Also, the development of 4-8 mil-sq ft as a projected range which may fluctuate. When you look at the parcels assembled along the waterfront, the idea that they brought Sunnyside up in the press conference, sure is a lot of prospective talk going on.

In the press conference, Amazon's VP even said that the locations were a factor of the employees preferences to live.

With the potential sites in LIC and the surroundings available or slated to be developed, the towers currently rising to meet any sort of future demand for living, I think the conditions favor LIC for it to be larger VERSUS CC which would be very high in leasing. Unless they buy out certain buildings.

I doubt Amazon would want to long term lease space, but own their own property. Become a large landlord per say. Similar to their Seattle HQ. The lease at 1 Court Square would be temporary as they would want to own, to add to their fixed assets. From a net worth perspective, your losing money if you lease. Long term, property ownership is paramount.

I tend to agree with your assessment on this!

[fleonzo]

Originally Posted by skyscraper

STFU up with this. New York is not the capital of the world. You repeated it like 3 times in other posts, troll, what is your obsession with this?

He's trolling if you haven't figured it out yet....

[Mentallect]

Originally Posted by YSL

And you know this..how? Are you an Amazon executive?

You don't know any of this. None of us know which city was #1 or which was #2. NYC could have been #1 all along. The only reason DMV was always talked about is was on the east coast, wapo and because 'Jeff Bezos has a house there!". Yea, 'celebrities' owning homes in DC is not usual so it's the talk of the town, but Bezos has had a penthouse in NYC since 1999 and has been buying out his neighboring apartments decades later to create what must be a sprawling mansion sized apartment. From what I'm reading read, NYC home was one of his first splurges after he got rich. He clearly loves the place. Not many people know that because people there don't really care and it is to be expected that someone like him has a residence in NYC. NYC could have been #1 all along with Nova as #2. Or Nova could have been #1 and NYC was last minute. Or they were both planned from the beginning.

WE. DON'T. KNOW.

Actually, we do know. It was an open secret for months on end HQ2 was coming to NOVA. The Governors of VA, MD knew, the mayor of Washington, DC knew it. There was a nod and wink. JBG stopped leasing office space 6 months ago in CC, not just recently. NVA turned down another multibillion dollar company's offer to relocate to NVA because they already had all but a written contract HQ2 was coming to NVA. There was the Amazon intranet website leak about record number of Amazon employees looking at awards Arlington won for sustainability, the numerous times Amazon's leadership team met with developer JBG Smith, the fact Potomac Yard area land permits were being turned down for other developers for months with no explanation, etc. Everyone knew, no one could say, and NYC was likely the afterthought, but NVA was always the prom date.

[pico44]

Originally Posted by LA21st

I don't understand how the Amazon move has brought out all these NYC/DC bragging stuff. Would Chicagoans do the same? I doubt it

[RCDC]

Do you see DC residents bragging here? Because I sure as hell don't.

[Mentallect]

Originally Posted by KB0679

I'd disagree with that, the description of DC you gave being the primary reason.

Perhaps you are correct. However, Virginia is looked upon more favorably than both. HQ2 will be in Northern Virginia. While Washington, DC has the dominant title and geographical recognition, DC is not in Virginia. Writers have listed Washington, DC in the title because most Americans are more familiar with DC than Northern Virginia, but these areas are not the same.

[fleonzo]

Originally Posted by RCDC

Do you see DC residents bragging here? Because I sure as hell don't.

Apparently not enough of them on a site titled "Skyscraper"page.......