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Amazon's 2nd HQ


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#1 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 16 September 2017 - 11:29 AM

Lots of cities competing, but I'm encouraged by the effort being put in by all needed parties to try and lure Amazon to Baltimore.

 

I believe the impact it would have to the region as a whole would be tremendous.



#2 Mark Carver

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Posted 16 September 2017 - 01:58 PM

Governor Hogan will support any site in Maryland but that Port Covington probably makes the most sense.

 

https://www.washingt...m=.8d700b07d7c4

 

 

This Baltimore company mocked up what Amazon HQ2 could look like at Port Covington

 

PortCovington-AmazonCampus-1024x546.jpg

 

https://technical.ly...port-covington/


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#3 Chris B

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Posted 16 September 2017 - 02:40 PM

I saw Goldman Sachs also put some sort of investment into Port Covington earlier this week.

#4 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 26 September 2017 - 10:57 AM

Baltimore Sun: Op Ed on chances
https://www-baltimor...-story,amp.html



#5 Chris B

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Posted 19 October 2017 - 12:41 PM

Balt Sun: http://www.baltimore...1018-story.html



#6 The Epic

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Posted 19 October 2017 - 02:11 PM

http://www.baltimore...1018-story.html

 

If MD pulls this off, Hogan might be upgraded from Governor to Emperor. LOL



#7 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 19 October 2017 - 03:31 PM

Inc: Everything Jeff Bezos Could Want for Amazon Can Be Found in This Often-Overlooked City
https://www.inc.com/...ter-search.html



#8 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 09:28 AM

NY Times: Following the (Bike) Trail to Amazon’s Second Headquarters

https://www.nytimes....ompetition.html

 

There are obviously many variables still to be assessed, but based on these criteria and the weight I expect Amazon to place on them, here are my finalists, in descending order: Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Toronto, Chicago and Boston.



#9 JeremyStrain

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 09:41 AM

I think it'll definitely go on the East Coast. Makes the most logistics sense with the current on the West Coast, and him owning the Post kinda leans more towards Mid-Atlantic than up North.

 

I've heard that PG County had a stronger bid than Baltimore did though, something about housing, public transportation (even though Metro is a joke), and tax breaks offered. Looking at those other cities in consideration it kinda feels like PIT and BAL are out of place a little bit though, DC seems like it's in line with the others, I've always considered PIT, BAL, SF etc. more of a 2nd tier of cities compared to the big major metros.

 

This will be interesting to follow though, I've got a major project coming up in my grad program and I was planning on doing something about this deal, so I'm looking forward to digging into it.


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#10 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 10:25 AM

I think it'll definitely go on the East Coast. Makes the most logistics sense with the current on the West Coast, and him owning the Post kinda leans more towards Mid-Atlantic than up North.

 

I've heard that PG County had a stronger bid than Baltimore did though, something about housing, public transportation (even though Metro is a joke), and tax breaks offered. Looking at those other cities in consideration it kinda feels like PIT and BAL are out of place a little bit though, DC seems like it's in line with the others, I've always considered PIT, BAL, SF etc. more of a 2nd tier of cities compared to the big major metros.

 

This will be interesting to follow though, I've got a major project coming up in my grad program and I was planning on doing something about this deal, so I'm looking forward to digging into it.

 

 

I don't believe PG (frankly basically anywhere) has a shovel ready, approved space like Port Covington...  (there were nearly 300 bids, so the odds of any area landing this are significant... but Port Covington does a lot to give Baltimore more than a punchers chance).


Baltimore City by itself is a 2nd tier city. The Baltimore Metro is not.

The Baltimore Metro is one of the more affluent areas in the country in-terms of median income and post-grad rates... but DC is ahead in both.

Baltimore is one of the hotter markets in the country in-terms of tech grown (especially cyber security)...  Ed Tech, Bio Tech also flourishing...

Housing in Baltimore (and the Baltimore Metro) cheaper vs. DC and the DC Metro...

Transportation out of Port Covington will be strong.   Baltimore's proximity to DC, and the NE corridor a factor overall (not directly vs. a bid from PG / NOVA).

 

I hope we (Baltimore) land this...  next best thing would be it being in-state.

 

 

I've heard a lot of Austin, and Toronto talk. Also Detroit.

 



#11 DJ MC

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 10:30 AM

I think it'll definitely go on the East Coast. Makes the most logistics sense with the current on the West Coast, and him owning the Post kinda leans more towards Mid-Atlantic than up North.

 

I've heard that PG County had a stronger bid than Baltimore did though, something about housing, public transportation (even though Metro is a joke), and tax breaks offered. Looking at those other cities in consideration it kinda feels like PIT and BAL are out of place a little bit though, DC seems like it's in line with the others, I've always considered PIT, BAL, SF etc. more of a 2nd tier of cities compared to the big major metros.

 

This will be interesting to follow though, I've got a major project coming up in my grad program and I was planning on doing something about this deal, so I'm looking forward to digging into it.

 

They might be looking for a "second-tier" city, though. A place where they can be assured of getting lots of attention (and money) from the government and dominating the area, while also bringing in attention (and money) as a benefit to the region. I think that Pittsburgh and Baltimore, and a lesser extant Philadelphia, are the three best examples of this on that list.


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#12 JeremyStrain

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 02:04 PM

They might be looking for a "second-tier" city, though. A place where they can be assured of getting lots of attention (and money) from the government and dominating the area, while also bringing in attention (and money) as a benefit to the region. I think that Pittsburgh and Baltimore, and a lesser extant Philadelphia, are the three best examples of this on that list.

 

Maybe, I dunno. I know the little I read was reading like they were looking for one of the Major Metros, they wanted full mass transit, available housing, major tax credits...and I can't remember what the other criteria were.

 

Don't take any of this is fighting for PG/DC over Balt. I really don't want it anywhere near here with traffic already what it is, but the article I read in the first place was about Detroit being a candidate and what a place like this could do for an area like that, or PIT for that matter which is much more of a poorer, working class area. Just made me think, they are demanding these first rate metro ammenities, but would have so much more impact in one of the lesser tier cities.


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#13 BSLMikeLowe

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 02:15 PM

From what I recall of Amazon's wish list, I doubt there is any location that checks every box, at least not at a high level. It will probably come down to how they choose to prioritize the things they want.


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#14 JeremyStrain

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 02:15 PM

I don't believe PG (frankly basically anywhere) has a shovel ready, approved space like Port Covington...  (there were nearly 300 bids, so the odds of any area landing this are significant... but Port Covington does a lot to give Baltimore more than a punchers chance).


Baltimore City by itself is a 2nd tier city. The Baltimore Metro is not.

The Baltimore Metro is one of the more affluent areas in the country in-terms of median income and post-grad rates... but DC is ahead in both.

Baltimore is one of the hotter markets in the country in-terms of tech grown (especially cyber security)...  Ed Tech, Bio Tech also flourishing...

Housing in Baltimore (and the Baltimore Metro) cheaper vs. DC and the DC Metro...

Transportation out of Port Covington will be strong.   Baltimore's proximity to DC, and the NE corridor a factor overall (not directly vs. a bid from PG / NOVA).

 

I hope we (Baltimore) land this...  next best thing would be it being in-state.

 

 

I've heard a lot of Austin, and Toronto talk. Also Detroit.

 

 

PG has a couple areas already set and ready to go for a major corporate pull like this. They've been keeping stuff set aside and planning for years (since they were after the FBI building amongst others). PC has a lot of pull, but getting that sales pitch first hand once (for a client), there are going to be logistics problems involved, especially to land a company THIS big.

 

BMore metro is nothing to scoff at, when you start including Howard (one of the wealthiest in the nation) and some of the other surrounding areas, but they are much more spread out than the major metro suburbs. As someone who recently left the "DC Metro" and technically crossed the line into "Bmore metro" I more sit on the line of the two, so not trying to make this one or the other...just the gist I got from reading the Detroit article was that they were looking for a bigger city, and one with a full on subway system.

 

I think if the spot was outside of the city proper and more in the suburbs with transit it would have better odds. Same around DC though, no matter where you put it the traffic is going to suck.

 

Just really interested to see what their deciding factors end up being. Something to be said for the ability to really impact a community and add positive change to lower "rated" or smaller cities vs the same few majors.


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#15 JeremyStrain

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 02:16 PM

From what I recall of Amazon's wish list, I doubt there is any location that checks every box, at least not at a high level. It will probably come down to how they choose to prioritize the things they want.

 

Yeah this is kinda what I think too.

 

One of the reasons I didn't pick them for my project this semester, I wanted to give it some more time to shake out and look at it later once they announce and see their reasonings.


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#16 BSLMikeLowe

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 02:24 PM

One thing to keep in mind about Amazon is that despite how huge they already are, they are still hyper-focused on gaining market share. Mainly because they have evolved into so much more than an online retailer. That kind of puts them in a little different category than some other companies their size that are more focused on maximizing profits and shareholder value. That approach could have some influence on what city they think is best.

 

They probably want to headquarter some of their newer ventures in the new city as opposed to just duplicating or relocating what they currently have in Seattle....so what those ventures are/will be, and how that area can accommodate those specific things, is going to be important. For that reason, Baltimore might have a great shot just because it's so close to DC, which means Amazon execs don't have to travel far to meet with federal regulators and politicians that can help them grease the skids for their ideas (like drone delivery).



#17 RShack

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 02:26 PM

On the positive side, Seattle is the West Coast's Baltimore... (seaport vibe and hx, etc.)

 

On the negative side, Port Covington does nothing to feed the alleged preference for bolstering a central city that needs it with more than half the employees walking to work... same thing re: respectable mass transit...


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#18 BSLMikeLowe

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 02:28 PM

On the positive side, Seattle is the West Coast's Baltimore... (seaport vibe and hx, etc.)

 

On the negative side, Port Covington does nothing to feed the alleged preference for bolstering a central city that needs it with more than half the employees walking to work... same thing re: respectable mass transit...

 

Nah, Seattle is the west coast version of Boston. Oakland is a better west coast comp for Baltimore.


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#19 RShack

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 02:30 PM

Nah, Seattle is the west coast version of Boston. Oakland is a better west coast comp for Baltimore.

 

You're looking at Seattle now, not before its resurgence...  Oakland seems like a lousy comp unless you're just counting rotten neighborhoods...


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#20 BSLMikeLowe

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Posted 29 October 2017 - 02:35 PM

You're looking at Seattle now, not before its resurgence...  Oakland seems like a lousy comp unless you're just counting rotten neighborhoods...

 

Well yeah, we are living in "now" after all. I don't think Amazon is going to be making any decisions based on what places were like in the 90s.

 

And Oakland is also a shipping town like Baltimore, with areas that have always been nice and others becoming more gentrified. Both exist in the shadow of a much more famous city. Both have sort of a counter-culture aura, as well as a bit of an inferiority complex. And yes, both still have lots of crappy, dangerous neighborhoods.






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