Right. That was part of the point of my discussion of Columbus - they already have 2 warehouses here because of the logistics and central US location. I don’t think that factors into the HQ requirements, but I don’t know if it hurts. Also, literally everyone I know here that is not in a working class service job works in something like software or robotics.
Something to think about.
Notice how Amazon lists two or three options for Washington and New York City. For instance, Amazon mentions Washington DC but also mentions Maryland and Northern Virginia. They mention New York City and Newark. So it seems like they’re really interested in these two areas but list different “back-ups” in case the first deal isn’t sweet enough. Maybe DC is too expensive - fine, then off to Northern Virginia we go. New York would be great, but too expensive? Okay, then there’s Newark right across the river.
But even so, these cities aren’t locks. I think Dallas and Atlanta have a really good chance. The other cities are long shots and here’s why. What Amazon is talking about is big-league stuff. It’s not like Apple building a new 50,000 employee building in Silicon Valley, an area they were basically born in and already know, and already know to be tech friendly. What Amazon doing is much different. They’re trying to become a mainstream, iconic household business. That means less quirky techie stuff and more Main Street image. If you’re building a new 50,000 employee facility, you don’t do this in a city without knowing it can work. That means you need a city with a proven track record of integrating major centers of operations and global headquarters. You also don’t want to be dealing with local mayors years from now claiming that you’re effing up their once nice little sleepy town. Amazon’s not dumb. They know all this. I know cities like Denver, Indianapolis, Raleigh, and Pittsburgh are still technically in the running but I’d be stunned if they get it for the reasons I described above. Cities like New York, DC, Atlanta, DFW…they’ve taken in world headquarters before. They know how the game works. And Amazon will choose the most attractive places for their employees to live.
Websites with articles highlighting Arlington, VA have noticed traffic increases on those articles in the past few weeks… and those requests are all coming from inside HQ1.
Just what NoVA needs, another large employer; as if traffic and transit aren’t gridlocked enough, w/ high housing prices due to demand. :smack:
One of the comments to that article suggest that Amazon is probably linking to that site to educate its current staff on one of the possible locations for HQ2. Probably news articles about other potential sites are also being linked to from within HQ1.
Denver has the largest concentration of federal government offices and agencies west of the Mississippi.
It also has a nice climate, and an educated work-force.
Amazon employees read an article about Amazon. Meh. Might indicate something, but easily couldn’t.
Since I’d like to be able to afford a condo in the area before I die, I hope HQ2 isn’t in Nova.
In a surprising move today, Georgia’s Lt Governor has decided to aggressively earn negative points by threatening Delta airlines with changes to tax legislation for their withdrawing their support of the NRA:
Delta’s HQ has been in Atlanta since 1941 and employs over 31,000 people in the city alone. They are a major reason why Hartsfield is the nations largest airport, and this won’t sit well with Delta’s Board and CEO regardless of their personal political affiliation.
Regardless, Bezos and team must be hearing this and crossing “Atlanta” off the list.
Does the lieutenant governor have any authority to “kill tax legislation”?
In Georgia the Lieutenant Governor is “President of the Senate”, like the US VP is over the US Senate. However, the Lt Gov has far more power in his role and the rest of the Senators of the same party are unlikely to antagonize him that much. And thusly, the tax break legislation for Delta has been rejected by the GA Senate. Even though the Governor (Deal) was strongly for it.
Oh, and in addition, Cagle is the favorite to be voted the next Governor of the state of Georgia this November. In addition to stuff like this, he’s in favor of an RFRA, which would be guaranteed to keep Amazon away.
Looks like it was Deal or no Deal…
Amazon came to Denver in late January/early Feb for a visit. They visited with local business tech leaders and rode the A Line light rail that goes to the airport and through the area (IMHO) most likely to house a campus. Reports said Amazon’s big questions were about housing and traffic and diversity in the community (or receptiveness to it).
Local people said that they expect every city will get a visit. D.C. and Toronto have also been visited. They said it was mentioned that Toronto was really expensive housing wise, more than even San Francisco.
They’re coming to Chicago in a couple days. Everyone dress nice and look busy.
They picked Los Angeles. What an inside-the-box, disappointing decision.
**Stand by
The press release may be an April Fool’s prank.**
To follow up on my own semi-rhetorical question, yes they did. 
https://nyti.ms/2lmrvVP
No, it isn’t, in absolute dollar terms. However Toronto housing may be more expensive if you crunch the numbers through some formula that relates it to median income in the area. Nowhere is there a median income that can compare with Silicon Valley and the surrounding areas.
The announcement now expected by the end of the year.
Called it.