Amazon HQ2

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by The ATX

I have never thought Austin would land HQ2. But we may have a better chance at HQ2 than an MLS team that was handed to the city for the taking.

If Austin doesn't land it, it will most likely be due to not having more robust public transportation...as Austin lines up very well with everything else. I would be surprised if the recently leaked transit plans were not previously shared with Amazon. That plan might be enough to keep the issue at bay...if Amazon reasonably believes that it can get done.

[hookem]

Originally Posted by The ATX

I have never thought Austin would land HQ2. But we may have a better chance at HQ2 than an MLS team that was handed to the city for the taking.

We'll land it if Amazon always wanted us in the first place. Which is a possibility.

If it's truly a competition about all the criteria they specified, then it will land someplace else.

[The ATX]

This was mentioned in a Canadian HQ2 thread today and Amazon contacted a Toronto radio station this evening to deny it.

"I'm just hearing that Toronto is definitely in the running, and definitely in the lead," says Toronto city councillor Michelle Holland...But even she admitted it would be a long shot that Toronto would actually land the mega-complex, and it would likely go to Austin, Texas instead.

http://www.iheartradio.ca/chum-fm/lo...-hq2-1.3642661

[H2O]

Originally Posted by The ATX

This was mentioned in a Canadian HQ2 thread today and Amazon contacted a Toronto radio station this evening to deny it.



http://www.iheartradio.ca/chum-fm/lo...-hq2-1.3642661

I've been saying that all along. It is between Austin and Toronto.

[urbancore]

Originally Posted by paul78701

Chart graphic from the article:

This is the BIGGEST factor and everyone is silent. Compared to most other big cities, Amazon will be able to pay LESS to their employees and the employees will be able to live LARGER. This is about Amazon's bottom line. I have no idea why this is not discussed more.

Also, Amazon will not get fucked with like they will in other cities/states. Little/no unions, less taxes, business friendly state, but with a liberal vibe that will draw employees. All this on the cheap.

Sure the COA/nimbys will stick their noses in here and there, but basically, I don't see how the COA council can fuck this up so long as Amazon's developer doesn't need variances. And we have plenty of space that won't need much if any special council action, Catalyst notwithstanding. Even if Austin offers zero incentives (which i think would be the case), it will still be cheaper to locate here than in DC, Boston, etc....and Texas will offer them something.

A client of mine from NYC said it was cheaper for him to buy a home in Austin for just over $1m, establish residency, then exercise his options in a large company he co-founded.....than sell them with his current NYC residency. He would escape the city/state income tax. He now plans to sell the house for $400k profit in 4 years.

It's hard to underestimate how expensive it is to live in these other coastal cities. It is not just rent/mortgage...it's everything from milk to gasoline to registering your car.

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by Dcbrickley

This is the BIGGEST factor and everyone is silent. Compared to most other big cities, Amazon will be able to pay LESS to their employees and the employees will be able to live LARGER. This is about Amazon's bottom line. I have no idea why this is not discussed more.

Also, Amazon will not get fucked with like they will in other cities/states. Little/no unions, less taxes, business friendly state, but with a liberal vibe that will draw employees. All this on the cheap.

Sure the COA/nimbys will stick their noses in here and there, but basically, I don't see how the COA council can fuck this up so long as Amazon's developer doesn't need variances. And we have plenty of space that won't need much if any special council action, Catalyst notwithstanding. Even if Austin offers zero incentives (which i think would be the case), it will still be cheaper to locate here than in DC, Boston, etc....and Texas will offer them something.

A client of mine from NYC said it was cheaper for him to buy a home in Austin for just over $1m, establish residency, then exercise his options in a large company he co-founded.....than sell them with his current NYC residency. He would escape the city/state income tax. He now plans to sell the house for $400k profit in 4 years.

It's hard to underestimate how expensive it is to live in these other coastal cities. It is not just rent/mortgage...it's everything from milk to gasoline to registering your car.

Yep. I still regard Boston and DC as probably the biggest competition in this. But in this aspect, Austin crushes them.

As an aside, NIMBYs and whatever other politics are an issue no matter where you go. I would image that larger entities like Amazon prepare for it...at least to some extent. They should not be caught by surprise when they have to deal with it. (Off topic: Although, I'm getting the impression that Precourt was a bit caught off guard by the amount of pushback they're getting.)

[The ATX]

Final submissions to Amazon from the 20 finalists due March 1st.

Amazon to select "Winner" this summer.

https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/n...-for-info.html

[We vs us]

Be interested to see if there's an interim list developed between now and summertime -- a shorter short list.

[Jdawgboy]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Final submissions to Amazon from the 20 finalists due March 1st.

Amazon to select "Winner" this summer.

https://www.bizjournals.com/denver/n...-for-info.html

I feel like this has turned into some sort of beauty pageant competition.

[N90]

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/am...nia-2018-02-28

[AustinGoesVertical]

Spoke with a developer today. FWIW, he's bearish on it coming to Austin simply because he doesn't think the city will sniff the incentives of others. He sees the DC area as a good fit. Also, he tends to believe if HQ2 does come to Austin, it will be at Broadmoor (have confirmed this was one of the the proposed sites - as we all have speculated)

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by N90

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/am...nia-2018-02-28

I’ve started to call these articles “Or Austin, Texases” — where they name an HQ2 front runner or two but always follow with a variant of “or it could be Austin, TX.” No one wants to argue explicitly for us as the #1 choice, but it’s also a foregone conclusion that we’re easily #2.

[paul78701]

Originally Posted by We vs us

I’ve started to call these articles “Or Austin, Texases” — where they name an HQ2 front runner or two but always follow with a variant of “or it could be Austin, TX.” No one wants to argue explicitly for us as the #1 choice, but it’s also a foregone conclusion that we’re easily #2.

Very true. Although, I wouldn't read too much into this article. "Housing analysts" aren't who I'd poll. They know little about Amazon's business needs.

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by Jdawgboy

I feel like this has turned into some sort of beauty pageant competition.

It's always been a beauty pageant.

[GoldenBoot]

Originally Posted by AustinGoesVertical

Spoke with a developer today. FWIW, he's bearish on it coming to Austin simply because he doesn't think the city will sniff the incentives of others. He sees the DC area as a good fit. Also, he tends to believe if HQ2 does come to Austin, it will be at Broadmoor (have confirmed this was one of the the proposed sites - as we all have speculated)

It's been said for a long time...Austin is not getting it. Never really had a chance - to be honest.

[freerover]

The Georgia legislature just nixed a planned 40 million annual tax cut for Delta because the airline severed their ties with the NRA.

That is certainly the right of the Georgia government but I don't think Amazon could commit to HQ2 in Atlanta knowing that liberal political stances could negatively cost them tax breaks. It doesn't help that the Georgia Senate passed a measure that gives adoption agencies the right not to work with LGBTQ couples. I guess I'm changing my pick to DC or Maryland with Boston as the (relative) dark horse.

[Austin1971]

https://www.mystatesman.com/business...WsgGR8NJNIM7N/

[Novacek]

Originally Posted by Austin1971

https://www.mystatesman.com/business...WsgGR8NJNIM7N/

Seriously, can we get Houston out of there?

I disagree with Pool, but at least she knows what the hell is going on.

Houston is blatantly incompetent.

[The ATX]

She really isn't keeping up.

In a written statement, Council Member Ora Houston said: “I was aware that there was interest in Austin for an Amazon headquarters, and that the Austin chamber was interested in bringing Amazon to Austin, beyond that I know what the media has reported. I am not sure what the process has been and didn’t see the letter from the mayor that some have referenced.”

https://www.mystatesman.com/business...WsgGR8NJNIM7N/

[chinchaaa]

https://twitter.com/SXUnofficial/sta...33809871376384

Probably complete BS, but how awesome would this be?