Amazon $5 bil co-HQ's in play

[MusicMan]

"how is this thread still a thing"

Well, it gives us something to mull over while we wait for the promised projects, like The ShipYards, The District, San Marco Publix, Berkman 2, The Landing rehab,  to actually begin!  And we could be waiting a long time my friend.

Where ever Amazon goes they will be done (with Phase 1) by the time The Shipyards gets started!!

This city should be home to the "World Tractor Pull Hall of Fame", 'cause we are always stuck in the mud.

[ProjectMaximus]

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

I think it could. Ultimately might not be the biggest concern, but it probably is a factor overall. Miami is claiming Bezos' allegiance because he graduated from high school here. Then again I've heard Albuquerque try to play up his birthplace and early years there, while Houston has claimed Jeff in elementary and middle school lol. I totally understand people who find this entire process absurd...and fascinating.

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.

The Codina Partners Downtown Doral development I believe includes a little over 100 acres where Dragonfly Izakaya is located (just ate there last weekend and walked around all the shops) You'll see one strip of businesses with a couple condo towers behind them. The rest is manicured and landscaped and planned to be mixed use development over a few more years. Apparently adjacent to it is a golf course known as the "White Course" with around 150 acres total. The White Course was purchased by Codina and Lennar, and they propose to give Amazon land on this course to develop for its campus. The rest of the development is supposed to be more mixed use. Lennar/Codina paid over $100M for this land and outbid Donald Trump, among others, for it.

The White Course, located in the northeast quadrant of Northwest 41st Street and Northwest 87th Avenue, is contiguous to the Trump National Doral Resort and Codina's 120-acre Downtown Doral mixed-use project.

The other SJTC-like area I have been to is Cityplace Doral (http://www.cityplacedoral.com) which is directly south of this area.

These are the articles I read to give you my answer:

https://therealdeal.com/miami/2016/01/27/codina-and-lennar-to-buy-redevelop-white-course-in-doral/
https://therealdeal.com/miami/2017/09/27/codinas-downtown-doral-enters-the-race-for-amazons-second-hq/

And the article I read on Fri which prompted this discussion:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/real-estate-news/article176015966.html

[Steve]

3. JAX International Airport. A really nice facility and primed for expansion for more international flights.

Not to belabor this thread, but as a very frequent traveler (At the top of Delta's Medallion program), JAX is NOT an asset. It's not that I don't like our airport; I really do. It's just not very large, and I think international flights across a pond (and I include the Caribbean to South America) are a LONG way off; if ever.

One of the challenges (and I posted this in another thread) is simply distance to Western Europe. As an example, Delta can serve much of the eastern seaboard (down to like North Carolina) to Europe with a 757 (seats 180). This is Delta's smallest plane that can fly overseas. It cannot use that from JAX, as the 757's range isn't long enough to reliably make the flight (it's literally right on the edge, and they will never schedule a route right on the edge of a plane's range). They can use a 767 (which can make it easily and come halfway back), but that seats 220. A difference of 40 people is a LOT in terms of filling a plane, and plane economics are such that they make money only if they come close to filling the plane.

I know Delta's network better than any of the airlines serving JAX. When Delta considers an international route for a US city, the first destinations in Europe are Paris and Amsterdam, as they have a joint hub at both of those airports (CDG through Air France, AMS through KLM). They just announced a non-stop from Orlando to Amsterdam starting next spring - this will pull more people than you realize from JAX. If I'm Delta, why would I add one in JAX when I can add one through MCO, and get the JAX crowd?

It hurts that Jacksonville is the "4th city" in Florida (thanks, Miami, Tampa, and Orlando), but it's the truth.

Sorry to rant on about this, but when I hear about JAX being an asset, I don't buy it.

[MusicMan]

You're not ranting, just making a point.

I was surprised you could fly non stop to Europe from Seattle, but you can.  I guess my hypothesis is somewhat based on hoped future changes combined with the present reality. 

I would also say that there is no perfect place for Amazon, and that they might have to chose a city that does not have at least one of the listed requirements.

[Steve]

I was surprised you could fly non stop to Europe from Seattle, but you can.  I guess my hypothesis is somewhat based on hoped future changes combined with the present reality. 

From a distance perspective, it's about the same from Seattle to Europe as it is to Japan (roughly).

From a market perspective, SEA-TAC is one of the most competitive air markets in the country right now. That happened because Alaska Airlines (who, despite the name, are based in Seattle and have their hub at SEA-TAC). Delta once had a really strong partnership, and it was seeming like Delta might buy Alaska, then the partnership soured faster than a messy end to a Friends With Benefits arrangement. Delta has increased their flights there by like 250% in the past 5 years or something crazy like that (it's now one of their big trans-Pacific Gateway Hubs), and American has increased as well.

[ProjectMaximus]

Just came across this week-old clip. Doesn't really add much to our thread but states that "one local official" and "one state official" confirm Jax is working on a bid.

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/jacksonville-could-have-sights-on-amazons-second-headquarters/616588953

[jaxlongtimer]

Score one for Toronto.  Google appears ready to build a $1 billion "smart city" on 12 acres of its urban core.  Toronto is also putting itself in the running for Amazon's co-HQ's.

http://www.businessinsider.sg/google-alphabet-toronto-smart-city-2017-10/

https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2017/10/04/google-firm-poised-to-partner-on-toronto-high-tech-neighbourhood.html

The agency said the winning bidder must propose plans to foster sustainability, resiliency and urban innovation; complete communities with a range of housing types for families of all sizes and income levels; economic development and prosperity driving innovation that will be rolled out to the rest of the world; and partnership and investment ensuring a solid financial foundation that secures revenue and manages financial risk.

Toronto tech leaders at a Smart Cities event in Toronto last May said the city is on the cusp of a tech boom, noting talk of Google interest in the city and Uber's decision to make Toronto a hub for driverless car research.

[jaxlongtimer]

Link below is to an "objective/empirical" analysis of city chances for the Amazon HQ2 based on Amazon's stated criteria per an economic consulting firm.  35 cities are ranked and Jax doesn't make the list.  NYC, CHI, LA, BOS, ATL, WASH and PHIL are on top.  Sacramento, Kansas City and San Jose bring up the rear.

I think PHIL could be a dark horse.  Lots of high tech (birthplace of ENIAC, first digital computer and then there is Ben Franklin and his kite ) and major urban core research center (University City), robust higher education (I think second only to Boston in number of colleges/universities in the surrounding area with one Ivy League school, multiple medical and engineering schools, top notch liberal arts schools, etc.), great public transit, diverse population, full of culture, big city benefits with easier livability vs. NYC, large metro area, cheaper living than the other major NE urban centers, well connected international airport and nicely in-between NYC, WASH and BOS (via Amtrak high speed Acela WASH-PHL-NYC-BOS corridor).  Also, top tier corporate HQ's including Comcast.  Probably wouldn't hurt politically that at least 3 states (PA, NJ, and DEL) would all benefit from this spot and maybe, also MD.  One thing I believe Amazon might want to factor in is time zones, especially if it plans to grow in Europe.  This could further benefit an East Coast site.

http://www.andersoneconomicgroup.com/Publications/Detail/tabid/125/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8287/The-AEG-HQ2-Index-Which-Cities-Could-Be-at-the-Top-of-Amazons-Wishlist.aspx

[Adam White]

I think PHIL could be a dark horse.  Lots of high tech (birthplace of ENIAC, first digital computer and then there is Ben Franklin and his kite ) and major urban core research center (University City), robust higher education (I think second only to Boston in number of colleges/universities in the surrounding area with one Ivy League school, multiple medical and engineering schools, top notch liberal arts schools, etc.), great public transit, diverse population, full of culture, big city benefits with easier livability vs. NYC, large metro area, cheaper living than the other major NE urban centers, well connected international airport and nicely in-between NYC, WASH and BOS (via Amtrak high speed Acela WASH-PHL-NYC-BOS corridor).  Also, top tier corporate HQ's including Comcast.  Probably wouldn't hurt politically that at least 3 states (PA, NJ, and DEL) would all benefit from this spot and maybe, also MD.  One thing I believe Amazon might want to factor in is time zones, especially if it plans to grow in Europe.  This could further benefit an East Coast site.

http://www.andersoneconomicgroup.com/Publications/Detail/tabid/125/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/8287/The-AEG-HQ2-Index-Which-Cities-Could-Be-at-the-Top-of-Amazons-Wishlist.aspx

And you forgot the Eagles 

[thelakelander]

Surprised to see New Orleans on that list...

[jaxlongtimer]

It's official, Mayor confirms Jax throwing its hat in the ring:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/mayor-city-to-bid-for-amazon-headquarters

In a statement released Friday afternoon, Curry said his administration is "keenly focused on economic growth and would like to see Amazon's presence grow."

"I strongly believe Jacksonville has all the attributes that make for a great place to do business – including a strong labor force, a low cost of doing business, and a great quality of life."

He said he and his team "are committed to doing everything we can to bring jobs and economic opportunities to Jacksonville; therefore, we are in the process of putting together a proposal to submit for this opportunity."

Curry did not elaborate about the proposal or the incentives package it would include.

[MusicMan]

Would love to see a copy of this (COJ proposal) in the public record. Is that possible?

[jaxlongtimer]

The ultimate irony:  Amazon building its second headquarters on the site of a dead shopping mall it helped kill off  !  New life for Regency Square?

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/shopping-malls-battered-by-online-retailers-may-be-offered-to-amazon-as-hq2-sites/

[FlaBoy]

Now that it is official Jax will be making a bid for Amazon HQ2, where do you think the city will propose as potential sites?

[jlmann]

CANT WAIT TIL WE LAND THIS!!