Amazon $5 bil co-HQ's in play

[jaxlongtimer]

I was going to say Jax would be a great contender for this until I read the below specs.  Hurt by the lack of an international airport (though that might be quick to fix with this "get") but, more of an issue, is the lack of decent mass transit.  HRO would also be an issue if it gets reversed.  This type of opportunity is more and more the future of juicy HQ opportunities with high paying jobs and Jax needs to step up to the next level with mass transit, acceptance of all peoples and advancing the urban core's development.  Some of this takes years to implement so we need to get going.  The world is moving at a faster pace than ever before.  In the present example, AMZN is giving cities only about 30 days to submit proposals with an announcement of the winner early next year.  That's very fast for a $5 billion decision but is also typical of the pace AMZN is setting for the rest of the world.

It didn't hint about where it might land, but its requirements could rule out some places: It wants to be near a metropolitan area with more than a million people; be able to attract top technical talent; be within 45 minutes of an international airport; have direct access to mass transit; and wants to be able to expand that headquarters to as much as 8 million square feet in the next decade. That's about the same size as its current home in Seattle. Co-headquarters, though, often come about as a result of mergers.

[MusicMan]

Being discussed on 2 parallel threads. We should at least try. Amazon could pretty much buy every vacant building downtown (over 50,000 sf) and completely revitalize Jax.

They could start with 233 West Duval, old JEA building, Vacant and 162,000 sf.

[jaxnyc79]

50,000 HQ Jobs at an average pay of $100,000.  Jax should definitely bid on this project, even if just for the learning experience.  The city has massive deficiencies that make the chances of success slim, but you might as well get in the game.         

[billy]

Toronto, Chicago, Austin, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Boston (courtesy Geekwire)

[billy]

Does anybody else wonder if seismic concerns are a factor in this?

[iMarvin]

A highly educated labor pool is critical and a strong university system is required.

Travel time to an international airport with daily direct flights to Seattle, New York, San Francisco/Bay Area, and Washington, D.C. is also an important consideration.

Jacksonville doesn't have a major university or international airport.

[billy]

Geekwire put Atlanta 6th on list, but  with Hartsfield Jackson, Technology Square and Georgia Tech, i think they have a shot at it,
depending on tsunami of state incentives.

[chipwich]

Austin sticks out the most to me.  Growing city, already HQ to Whole Foods, established tech hub, research university, Int'l airport with actual international service. 

Atlanta also sticks out for obvious reasons as does Charlotte, with its busy int'l airport and its proximity to the research triangle. 

I would put Boston and the DC metro in the mix.  Unfortunately, though it would be amazing, Jacksonville would be a long shot, given the requirements.

[MusicMan]

If Amazon came here the airport would have multiple International routes within a year.

We have 3 impressive universities within 3 hours, UF, FSU  and UNF.  We are wide open in terms of what could happen.  They have to try!

[thelakelander]

News from a few other interested cities:

Dan Gilbert confirms he's trying to get Amazon to build its second HQ in Detroit
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/dan-gilbert-confirms-apos-trying-011540788.html


Atlanta likely in consideration for Amazon's $5 billion "HQ2" (also mentions Miami/Brightline and Tampa/DT waterfront development as contenders)
https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2017/09/07/atlanta-likely-in-consideration-for-amazons-5.html


Charlotte wants to be home to Amazon's $5 billion second headquarters
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/whats-in-store/article171844127.html


Few Cities Could Accommodate Amazon's New Headquarters (claims Toronto, Boston, Washington, Atlanta, Dallas or Denver)
https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2017-09-07/few-cities-could-accommodate-amazon-s-new-headquarters

[JaGoaT]

If Amazon wants a blank palette just waiting to be turned into a masterpiece Jax is the perfect place but unfortunately we lack what they are looking for

[Captain Zissou]

Amazon could pretty much buy every vacant building downtown (over 50,000 sf) and completely revitalize Jax.

They could start with 233 West Duval, old JEA building, Vacant and 162,000 sf.

If Amazon came here the airport would have multiple International routes within a year.

You really don't get it.  Amazon isn't trying to take away from their core business to try to save a city... 

[thelakelander]

Yeah, Amazon doesn't give a damn about saving a second tier city like Jax. They're going to go to the place that ponies up the most amount of tax incentives and that also meets their business needs. Based off their criteria, I'm not sure any of Florida's cities will have a decent chance.

[MusicMan]

Detroit?

I don't think they look at "saving a second tier city"  at all. They would flat out own it. And the upside here beats any place I've seen.

But if they want an "established" city then I agree, we are a long shot. 

Remind me why Fidelity brought their HQ here? 

P.S. Just noticed there is an additional 56,000 sf available at 100 North Laura Street.

[Jim]

50,000 employees?  That is ALL of downtown, Southbank and Brooklyn combined.  They also need ~8 million sf.  If, IF, it were to happen here, downtown is out.  You need 8 Everbank Towers to match that.  Unless Healthy Town drops the old JEA location, an urban option here doesn't exist and this campus will not go anywhere but urban.


And now that Wisconsin is giving Foxconn $3 billion for 13,000 jobs, Jax and FL do not stand a chance to compete with those kind of market offers.