In the month since Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos announced plans for a $5 billion development that would serve as the e-commerce giant’s second headquarters, cities and regional economic development organizations (EGOs) across the country have been tripping over themselves in an effort to woo the world’s third-largest tech company.
In using an open RFP process with a tight timeline (just six weeks from the Sept. 7 reveal date), Amazon created a frenzied, almost hackathon-like atmosphere that it hoped would spark next-level creativity when it comes to urban redevelopment and incentives for corporate businesses. Amazon’s RFP process downplays the backroom dealings common with massive economic development opportunities like this, in favor of a more inclusive “show us what you got” approach.
And show us they did. As of mid-October, more than 50 cities and development groups had responded to Amazon’s RFP. The proposals range from impressive to outright wild. Noteworthy examples:
Dallas: a transit-oriented development for HQ2 adjacent to a proposed bullet train station. The $15 billion train line would shuttle passengers to and from Houston.
Phoenix: adapt a 1950s retail mall (the city’s first mall), which currently houses a few restaurants, offices, and a data center.
Frisco, Texas, is offering to build out the remainder of its city—the 62-square-mile Dallas suburb is 60% developed—with Amazon’s HQ as the centerpiece.
Atlanta suburb Stonecrest has promised to devote 345 acres to the corporate campus and rename a portion of the community, “City of Amazon.”
New Jersey has plans for some $7
billion in tax breaks over the next decade.
Don’t get me wrong, HQ2 would be a huge win for any metro market. Amazon says it expects the development to ramp up to include as many as 50,000 jobs.
But the hysteria around Amazon’s open RFP has gone to a new level of absurdity. I’m just waiting for Bezos to announce that he’s purchasing airtime on CNBC for his own version of LeBron’s “The Decision.” “After careful consideration, we decided that we’re going to take our talents to __________.” (Cut to camera on scene, applause erupts.)
It’s safe to say that the majority of the 50+ entrants in the race for HQ2 has a slim chance of winning. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t valuable lessons to glean from the exercise, says Amy Liu, a VP and Director with the Brookings Institution.
“This global firm basically sent a very clear market signal to cities about what matters, and I think they are really scrambling now to make sure they exhibit those assets,” she said. “But after the competition is over, what I want is for cities to not let go of that core message, which is that a strong technical workforce, a livable sustainable community, strong transit, multimodal access, and ultimately a diverse, tolerant community, those are the factors that matter in the long term.”
Related Stories
| Dec 20, 2011
Research identifies most expensive U.S. commercial real estate markets
New York City, Washington, D.C. and San Mateo, Calif., rank highest in rents.
| Dec 20, 2011
Aragon Construction leading build-out of foursquare office
The modern, minimalist build-out will have elements of the foursquare “badges” in different aspects of the space, using glass, steel, and vibrantly painted gypsum board.
| Dec 19, 2011
Chicago’s Aqua Tower wins international design award
Aqua was named both regional and international winner of the International Property Award as Best Residential High-Rise Development.
| Dec 19, 2011
Davis Construction breaks ground on new NIAID property
The new offices will total 490,998 square feet in a 10-story building with two wings of 25,000 square feet each.
| Dec 14, 2011
Belfer Research Building tops out in New York
Hundreds of construction trades people celebrate reaching the top of concrete structure for facility that will accelerate treatments and cures at world-renowned institution.
| Dec 13, 2011
Lutron’s Commercial Experience Center awarded LEED Gold
LEED certification of the Lutron facility was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. These features include: optimization of energy performance through the use of lighting power, lighting controls and HVAC, plus the use of daylight.
| Dec 12, 2011
AIA Chicago announces Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as 2011 Firm of the Year
SOM has been a leader in the research and development of specialized technologies, new processes and innovative ideas, many of which have had a palpable and lasting impact on the design profession and the physical environment.
| Dec 12, 2011
CRSI design awards deadline extended to December 31
The final deadline is extended until December 31st, with judging shortly thereafter at the World of Concrete.
| Dec 12, 2011
Mojo Stumer takes top honors at AIA Long Island Design Awards
Firm's TriBeCa Loft wins "Archi" for interior design.
| Dec 10, 2011
10 Great Solutions
The editors of Building Design+Construction present 10 “Great Solutions” that highlight innovative technology and products that can be used to address some of the many problems Building Teams face in their day-to-day work. Readers are encouraged to submit entries for Great Solutions; if we use yours, you’ll receive a $25 gift certificate. Look for more Great Solutions in 2012 at: www.bdcnetwork.com/greatsolutions/2012.