NYC metropolitan area
Grand Rapids does NOT have a major level university- it is NOT Ann Arbor. I think the city chosen will have to be appealing to young people, not families with children (although living conditions for those need to be more affordable than Seattle).
Denver is far from Seattle. Also being west of the Mississippi does not make it close. A headquarters will be people filled, not a place for manufacturing. It needs to have things to do for single, educated young people. A “coolness” factor for recent grads to want to be there. Why choose Amazon over other companies? Location.
Remember, we are talking research and development of products, not the zombie marketing of them or distributing them I presume. It seems to me that today it is the large private sector that is advancing computer research as much if not more than the universities. The workforce is being creative, not just refining what has already been done (although many will be doing that once products reach a certain point).
They need a workforce and good public transportation.
I’m new to this, but will hope for the D.C./Baltimore metro area.
NJ is putting up $7 B in tax incentives.
As a Seattle resident, there is a certain amount of irony in them mentioning traffic as a criteria for a new location. Seattle traffic is gridlocked, in large part due to the huge growth of Amazon, FB, Google in the area, and public transit is way behind the needs of the region. And given what they have helped do to the housing market here, please… someone else just take them.
My personal vote as the city and region that would gain the most is Detroit. I doubt they will pick it, but wish they would. They aren’t going to Grand Rapids, that I am sure of.
Charlotte is making a big pitch, but I don’t like our chances. There are definitely some pluses to this area.
Cleveland
When are they supposed to decide?
Pittsburgh. It fits all of the criteria. Easy rail transportation to Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, and New York. Great partnership possibilities with CMU and several other universities. Has the population and access to 50,000+ tech workers. Also access to Ohio and Kentucky workers. Pittsburgh has a high quality of life index.
The mass transit requirement rules a lot of places out that people have mentioned. I think that Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill would be a great fit for Amazon, but no mass transit (they don’t need it as much because the commuting patterns aren’t as concentrated). Nashville has growth, a great employee base, and no state income tax…but again, no mass transit.
As high cost and dense as Boston is, I agree that it would be very attractive to Amazon if they make a similar offer as they did for GE…and why not? Amazon would actually be a bigger lift for them than GE HQ.
I’m sure they did their research beforehand and know the places they would go to and this is all about getting the best deal from one of those places. At the end of the day it’ll be about money.
Anywhere in North Carolina and Texas will be eliminated because of those states’ LGBT views and legislation.
The mayor of Boston just this morning announced that the location for bid is in East Boston where revitalization began a few years ago and is home to many of the area young people. For those not familiar with Boston, it is in the general area of Logan Airport. I was hoping it would be west or south of boston to avoid the horrendous rush hour traffic congestion. You couldn’t pay me enough (not that I’m in line for a job with Amazon lol) to do that commute from the South. I don’t think its much better from any other angle either.
Okay I heard from a very good source they are looking at NYC particularly the World trade Center office space. I kid you not. Apparently as far as Seattle is concerned they have tapped out on talent and everyone who was interested in relocating to the Emerald City has already done so.
How about the empty Sun Micro campus in Burlington? Burlington is a lower priced alternative right next to Lexington. There’s a lot around there and it’s only twenty minutes to Boston. Boston is a thriving tech market with Google and Facebook in Kendall Square/Cambridge. Vibrant area.
Yes, I heard that about East Boston. Ahh…a tough place to live traffic and location wise. Many other towns in Massachusetts submitted bids as well. NH’s bid was to talk down Boston.
Off the top of my head, *East * Boston? Oh, brother. Maybe MA and Boston don’t really want them.
Yes, a lot of brain power and young energy in Cambridge and Somerville. But housing is either insane or seriously yet to be developed, including some tough neighborhoods and some entrenched for multi generations. No offense meant. In New England, we have a lot of areas yet to “emerge.”
I commuted to Revere and it’s no fun. But frankly, Amazon isn’t asking me for an opinion.
Yes, they haven’t asked us, but maybe they should. I have tons of opinions on it. 
I agree Eastie is not a great option. As great as it would be to get the area infused with 50k new jobs with an average salary of 100k I’m not sure the Boston area is really a good fit. There really is very little land anywhere which is probably why the mayor mentioned East Boston. Huge traffic problems with very high priced real estate due to low inventory in the area. Cambridge and Somerville is ridiculously expensive with little to show for it. I’m telling you…Burlington.
Well, if East Boston is Boston’s proposal, NH’s comments are true - congestion, crumpling roads. 