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Amazon HQ2: Advanced talks about second headquarters in Northern Virginia

washingtonpost.com

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Re: Amazon HQ2: Advanced talks about second headquarters in Northern Virginia

#21

Post by jayess »

hak8or wrote: post #18
7174n6 wrote: post #10

The traffic and congestion is already horrible. The cost of living is excessive. I don't understand why these companies - that can locate anywhere - want to lessen the quality of life for their employees.

Why would they want their hq out in the boonies? And amazon (and many other tech companies) adjust their salary to cost of life in the area. The closer they are to a big city, the better, because they can attract more talent from the people already living close by.

As though it's a binary choice. Washington DC metro, or the boonies.

Re: Amazon HQ2: Advanced talks about second headquarters in Northern Virginia

#22

Post by smacktoward »

sj4nz wrote: post #14

I have heard that the HQ2 is supposed to be a kind of "domed city." If it is Crystal City, Amazon HQ2 has started a infrastructure formation using a subscription with a DCaaS.

If “domed city” is the atmosphere they’re looking for, Crystal City is definitely the right choice — the existing buildings there are all connected together by a warren of underground tunnels, which includes an underground shopping mall. Combine that with the Brutalist ‘60s architecture and you get a neighborhood straight out of a bad sci-fi movie.

Re: Amazon HQ2: Advanced talks about second headquarters in Northern Virginia

#23

Post by tomohawk »

Seems like an admission that they have nothing new to do so they are seeking growth through federal contracts.

Northern VA is the poster child of what happens when you have tons of growth over decades, but absolutely no planning, or worse, lots of nimby preventing infrastructure.

Re: Amazon HQ2: Advanced talks about second headquarters in Northern Virginia

#24

Post by rhino369 »

tacomonstrous wrote: post #11

How's the public transit there? I was under the impression that this was a major piece of the puzzle for HQ2.

Not great, but could be a lot worse. Crystal city is on two of the main subway lines. And has a Virigina regional rail and Amtrak stop. There is a pretty major bus depot there too.

The downside is one of the subway lines only runs every 13 minutes during rush hour. And that cannot be increased without decreasing runs on other lines (because they share a tunnel). Maybe Amazon will convince the governments to run more on that line (and take it away from the other lines).

edit: Forgot to mention that airport access is probably the best place in the entire country. You could basically walk to national airport.

Re: Amazon HQ2: Advanced talks about second headquarters in Northern Virginia

#25

Post by hn_throwaway_99 »

smacktoward wrote: post #16
tacomonstrous wrote: post #11

How's the public transit there? I was under the impression that this was a major piece of the puzzle for HQ2.

Metro used to be very good. Today it’s..... ehhhhhhhh, not so much.

Still, there is literally a metro stop right in Crystal City that's on 2 lines, and with all the underground corridors between buildings you can get tons of places without even going above ground. If I was an Amazon employee moving out there, damn straight I'd be finding some place right on a metro stop.

Re: Amazon HQ2: Advanced talks about second headquarters in Northern Virginia

#26

Post by tomohawk »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #17
headShrinker wrote: post #2

Just a stones throw away from Washington DC, imagine that. I’m sure it’s no coincidence that Amazon is in talks to do billions of dollars worth of work with the DOD and that the location choice of the second headquarters might have a lot to do with that.

Crystal City really has so much going for it: 1. As you point out, right next to Pentagon and federal government. 2. Good transportation: right on the Metro and literally across the street from National Airport. 3. If you're going to have 2 headquarters, having them be on opposite coasts makes sense. 4. And I think another one that is pretty unique to Crystal City is that Amazon and their employees definitely want to…

> 2. Good transportation

Surely, you jest. Yeah, it's on a metro line, but hardly anyone lives near a metro line. That area is consistently rated as the #1 or #2 worst traffic in the country for years.

Re: Amazon HQ2: Advanced talks about second headquarters in Northern Virginia

#27

Post by totablebanjo »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #17
headShrinker wrote: post #2

Just a stones throw away from Washington DC, imagine that. I’m sure it’s no coincidence that Amazon is in talks to do billions of dollars worth of work with the DOD and that the location choice of the second headquarters might have a lot to do with that.

Crystal City really has so much going for it: 1. As you point out, right next to Pentagon and federal government. 2. Good transportation: right on the Metro and literally across the street from National Airport. 3. If you're going to have 2 headquarters, having them be on opposite coasts makes sense. 4. And I think another one that is pretty unique to Crystal City is that Amazon and their employees definitely want to…

I mean, Crystal City is pretty soulless, but a bunch of AMZN cash will make that millenial ready in no time.

Also, some nyt writer that’d never been there called it the Brooklyn of DC which was hilarious.

Re: Amazon HQ2: Advanced talks about second headquarters in Northern Virginia

#28

Post by tinyhouse »

> "The company may be having similar discussions with other finalists."

The article sounds very speculative. I don't know anything about this place, but if it's expensive like people here say it is, then I don't see the point of Amazon moving there. I think a place like downtown Chicago would make more sense. (if only the winter was not as cold and better public schools...)

Re: Amazon HQ2: Advanced talks about second headquarters in Northern Virginia

#29

Post by ttul »

hn_throwaway_99 wrote: post #17
headShrinker wrote: post #2

Just a stones throw away from Washington DC, imagine that. I’m sure it’s no coincidence that Amazon is in talks to do billions of dollars worth of work with the DOD and that the location choice of the second headquarters might have a lot to do with that.

Crystal City really has so much going for it: 1. As you point out, right next to Pentagon and federal government. 2. Good transportation: right on the Metro and literally across the street from National Airport. 3. If you're going to have 2 headquarters, having them be on opposite coasts makes sense. 4. And I think another one that is pretty unique to Crystal City is that Amazon and their employees definitely want to…

And to its credit, Crystal City is actually pretty rad. It’s full of highly educated people who can’t say where they work or what they do. But they do have good taste in restaurants.

Re: Amazon HQ2: Advanced talks about second headquarters in Northern Virginia

#30

Post by hn_throwaway_99 »

tomohawk wrote: post #23

Seems like an admission that they have nothing new to do so they are seeking growth through federal contracts. Northern VA is the poster child of what happens when you have tons of growth over decades, but absolutely no planning, or worse, lots of nimby preventing infrastructure.

is the poster child of what happens when you have tons of growth over decades, but absolutely no planning, or worse, lots of nimby preventing infrastructure.

Could easily say that about SF, LA, Austin, etc.

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