Amazon $5 bil co-HQ's in play

[thelakelander]

$5 billion? To be honest, based on some other recent massive incentives deals, I expect someone will offer at least $8 billion.

[ProjectMaximus]

$5 billion? To be honest, based on some other recent massive incentives deals, I expect someone will offer at least $8 billion.

I think so too. But I think most of the 100+ cities that have expressed interest are simply not going to be able to. And amongst regions that have the infrastructure that the Gateway offers (North and Central Jersey), can anyone muster anything close to that? The Jersey side of NYC, while perhaps not ideal for NYC, is still pretty close to offering everything Amazon wants except extremely low cost.

BTW, I read that $2M/job is the average incentive for tech companies opening data centers...which would mean $100B for Amazon if they reach their 50k job mark. 

[MusicMan]

I think Jacksonville absolutely should be pursuing this, regardless of their perceived chances of success.

Why JAX?

1. It's Florida. Great weather. Great beaches. No state income tax. Plenty of vacant land.
2. UF, FSU, and UNF. That's a respectable list and all within 160 miles, a short drive or flight.
3. JAX International Airport. A really nice facility and primed for expansion for more international flights.
4. The St Johns river and Jaxport. Literally unlimited opportunities for expansion and recreation.
5. The Jaguars and Shad Khan. An NFL franchise and one of the most dynamic owners. Can anyone say "Amazon.com Stadium?" 
6. The Players Championship and the PGA. Another opportunity for a world class corporate tie in/sponsorship.
7. I 10 an I 95. Add CSX and you have a transportation and logistics hub that is well established but not too crowded.
8. Amazing health care infrastructure in place. Mayo, Baptist, UF Health Proton therapy, MD Anderson, . it's a really impressive list.
9. Plenty of large vacant buildings downtown and plenty of vacant parcels. Add to that the impending demolition of the old court house
    and surrounding area .......
10. I could easily see Bezos partnering with Elon Musk to design and build a fleet of autonomous 15-20 passenger vans that connect his
     downtown campus. Once in service he could sell the vans to municipalities around the globe.
11. Haskell. A world class design build firm right here in Jacksonville ready to take on any construction task Amazon could put forth.
12. Unless I'm mistaken , there are more Fortune 500 Companies in Jax than any other Florida city.
13. No real competition here. If Amazon picked Jacksonville they would immediately be THE PLAYER in North East Florida, and perhaps
      the most important corporation in the state. That's a lot of power and influence and from here they could make a lot happen, with
      very little local interference. Politically, they could impact national and local elections if desired.

14. Be honest. Jax is pretty much a blank slate in it's current form. There are few cities this old with this much upside.
15. Besides Detroit, there is no place Amazon can go where the cost of operation is going to be lower than here. Quality real estate for
      this type of project is cheap and plentiful. Wages in Florida are lower than most of the competing areas. New Jersey? You'll have to
      pay double for each person so they can afford to live nearby. Not here. 

Add it all up.

WE WIN!!!!

[thelakelander]

The way I see it, every city across the country can and will make a similar chamber of commerce style pitch.

[MusicMan]

Ah, sure Lake.

But let's first eliminate the cities that don't have an NFL franchise.

Eliminate the cities that don't boast gorgeous beaches.

Eliminate the cities that don't host a Major PGA Championship event.

How many are left?

Eliminate the cities that don't have a serious international port.

Eliminate the cities that have no state income tax.

Eliminate the cities that do not have multiple large vacant buildings and real estate parcels literally littering their downtowns.

How many are left?

The reason Jax might suck now has nothing to do with it's potential, only the 'good ole boy' mentality that drove everything downtown for the last 5 decades.

[thelakelander]

Ah, sure Lake.

But let's first eliminate the cities that don't have an NFL franchise.

But one can say, let's eliminate the cities that don't have all 4 major sports franchises. That takes a list down to 13. Another could say, let's eliminate all cities that don't already have a viable mass transit system. Or let's eliminate the cities that don't have four seasons throughout the year.  How about eliminating all cities that don't have a major college in their urban core or an airport that serves as a hub to a major airline. How about eliminating the cities that aren't within 60 minutes of a ski resort? There's a million ways play the chamber of commerce game. If Jax wants a real chance, it will have to figure out how to bring billions in tax incentives and free money to the game. Without that, everything else won't matter.

[FlaBoy]

$5 billion? To be honest, based on some other recent massive incentives deals, I expect someone will offer at least $8 billion.

When your tax rate is the largest in the country, it is easy to provide tax breaks. Some states like TX, TN, FL, etc. already have some incentives built in with low tax rates for these companies.

[Adam White]

Ah, sure Lake.

But let's first eliminate the cities that don't have an NFL franchise.

Why eleminate cities that don't have an NFL franchise? Are you saying that being an NFL city is a prerequisite? That makes no sense to me.

[MusicMan]

No. Saying its something that sets us apart from many cities, not a pre-requisite.   I laid out a list that IMO made us look attractive to Amazon. 

How many cities in US are on their short list that do not have an NFL franchise?

Anyway, I put forth the list because I do believe we have a unique offering for Amazon that no one else can put on the table.  You are focusing on "how much money can we give them?" I'm looking at the tangible and intangible items that IMO make us VERY attractive to Amazon.  I also e mailed and called the Mayor's office. Has anyone else done that?

[Adam White]

No. Saying its something that sets us apart from many cities, not a pre-requisite.   I laid out a list that IMO made us look attractive to Amazon. 

How many cities in US are on their short list that do not have an NFL franchise?

Anyway, I put forth the list because I do believe we have a unique offering for Amazon that no one else can put on the table.  You are focusing on "how much money can we give them?" I'm looking at the tangible and intangible items that IMO make us VERY attractive to Amazon.  I also e mailed and called the Mayor's office. Has anyone else done that?

To be fair, I'm the first person who will admit he has no idea what Amazon is looking for and what type of deal Jax will offer. This is far outside of my area of expertise (if I even have one) and I'm not going to engage in some pissing contest over it.

That said, I would assume that any city could come up with a list of great things that make it unique. And for me, personally, the idea of an NFL team would never have entered my mind.

[Jim]

But then I hear that Doral is going rogue with its own bid to bring Amazon into our little faux downtown area (very SJTC) and well...all I can say is traffic is already hellish here. The bid better include full-scale infrastructure improvements.

SJTC is not only a horrible idea but should never be uttered as a possible site by anyone with any development and/planning experience.  I'd go so far as to say they need to get out of the profession.   

They need the equivalent of 8 Everbank Towers (8 million sqft) and the entirety of downtown employees (50,000).  SJTC itself is pretty much at full build out and what small parcels are left are likely already accounted for.   The closest that would even remotely be considered viable is the UNF Technology Park and Amazon seems adamant about not going suburban with HQ2.

[jlmann]

how is this thread still a thing

HQ is not coming here.  ever.  let's move along.

[ProjectMaximus]

How many cities in US are on their short list that do not have an NFL franchise?

I'd guess that Austin, Raleigh, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa have a better shot than Jax. Probably Orlando too.

But then I hear that Doral is going rogue with its own bid to bring Amazon into our little faux downtown area (very SJTC) and well...all I can say is traffic is already hellish here. The bid better include full-scale infrastructure improvements.

SJTC is not only a horrible idea but should never be uttered as a possible site by anyone with any development and/planning experience.  I'd go so far as to say they need to get out of the profession.   

They need the equivalent of 8 Everbank Towers (8 million sqft) and the entirety of downtown employees (50,000).  SJTC itself is pretty much at full build out and what small parcels are left are likely already accounted for.   The closest that would even remotely be considered viable is the UNF Technology Park and Amazon seems adamant about not going suburban with HQ2.

I think you misunderstood what I said. I now live in Doral, FL, and the site that Doral leaders/developers are proposing is very SJTC-like. However, it is zoned for office towers and it does have dozens of completely undeveloped acreage available so it's perhaps a better possibility than the SJTC in Jax. But it's also a very long shot for many reasons, one of which is that it is competing against the Greater South Florida cooperative bid.

[KenFSU]

^I wonder if this year's hurricane season, and the increased potential for more seasons like it, would scare Amazon away from South Florida.

[Jim]

How many cities in US are on their short list that do not have an NFL franchise?

I'd guess that Austin, Raleigh, Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa have a better shot than Jax. Probably Orlando too.

But then I hear that Doral is going rogue with its own bid to bring Amazon into our little faux downtown area (very SJTC) and well...all I can say is traffic is already hellish here. The bid better include full-scale infrastructure improvements.

SJTC is not only a horrible idea but should never be uttered as a possible site by anyone with any development and/planning experience.  I'd go so far as to say they need to get out of the profession.   

They need the equivalent of 8 Everbank Towers (8 million sqft) and the entirety of downtown employees (50,000).  SJTC itself is pretty much at full build out and what small parcels are left are likely already accounted for.   The closest that would even remotely be considered viable is the UNF Technology Park and Amazon seems adamant about not going suburban with HQ2.

I think you misunderstood what I said. I now live in Doral, FL, and the site that Doral leaders/developers are proposing is very SJTC-like. However, it is zoned for office towers and it does have dozens of completely undeveloped acreage available so it's perhaps a better possibility than the SJTC in Jax. But it's also a very long shot for many reasons, one of which is that it is competing against the Greater South Florida cooperative bid.

Ah.  My apologies.  That clarifies it.

I'm checking Google Earth but nothing looks viable around Doral either.  Can you name the intersection closest to the area?  I'm trying to find something like SJTC in the area and I'm not seeing it.