Some areas express concern over potential arrival of Amazon's second headquarters

While officials in the Washington, DC, area have been falling over backwards to lure Jeff Bezos to build his second Amazon corporate headquarters in the area, community spokespeople across the country have expressed skepticism (at the least) to the desirability of this big new neighbor.  Three articles have been published within the last couple of weeks highlighting this double-edged sword.

BizNow, Denver, March 1, reports:

Congested roads.  Escalating house prices.  A stressed education system.

People who have lived in Denver any length of time have witnessed these and other negative impacts on a city that is experiencing rapid growth.  And it scares some of them to think it could get worse if Amazon selects the Mile High City for its second headquarters, also called HQ2. . . .

Amazon HQ2 would have a profound effect where it lands.  It is expected to bring 50,000 jobs and as much as 8M square feet of office development to whatever city it selects, but the actual number of people moving to the city will be higher when factoring in spouses, children, and employees from other companies who follow Amazon's lead and relocate to the chosen region . . . .

Similarly, The Guardian reported, March 15:

What do you get for the man who has everything? When it comes to Jeff Bezos – the richest man in the world with around $130bn to his name – many US cities competing to host Amazon’s second headquarters have an answer: billions of dollars in tax incentives.

That proposition has united an ideologically diverse group of dissenters to Amazon’s grand HQ2 competition, ranging from rightwing organizations linked to the Koch brothers to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Groups and individuals that would normally agree only to mutual disdain and distrust have somehow come around to the same conclusion: that Amazon’s decision to pit 20 cities against each other in a fight to host a future hub is a bad deal for everyone except Amazon. . . .

And the Wall Street Journal writes, March 15, that other corporations will demand the same tax benefits:

U.S. cities vying for Amazon.com Inc.’s second headquarters risk facing an unexpected consequence to victory: Other companies will demand the same hefty tax breaks conferred on the online retail giant.

Already, some companies with a presence in the finalist cities are calling for similar tax breaks from elected officials. It is a pitfall that often accompanies large tax incentive packages used to lure employers to a state.

In Washington, D.C., a group of tech companies wrote last week to the city’s mayor with a detailed list of requests—from training bonuses to property tax breaks—that the city is reportedly offering to Amazon. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive James Dimon recently said that he plans to call up the governor from the winning city and demand a similar deal. Finalist cities like Dallas, Chicago and Columbus, Ohio, are all places where JPMorgan already has tens of thousands of employees, Mr. Dimon said. . . .

Fairfax County (and other area jurisdictions) need to be very careful that they are not giving much more than they might receive in any deal with Bezos and Amazon on its HQ2.   After all, they are committing other peoples money.

d more at: https://www.bisnow.com/denver/news/economic-development/tk-85602?be=rpetrine%40gmail.com&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fri-02-mar-2018-000000-0500_dc-re?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser

People who have lived in Denver for any length of time have witnessed these and other negative impacts on a city that is experiencing rapid growth. And it scares some of them to think it could get worse if Amazon selects the Mile High City for its second headquarters, also referred to as HQ2.

Read more at: https://www.bisnow.com/denver/news/economic-development/tk-85602?be=rpetrine%40gmail.com&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fri-02-mar-2018-000000-0500_dc-re?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser

Congested roads. Escalating housing prices. A stressed education system. People who have lived in Denver for any length of time have witnessed these and other negative impacts on a city that is experiencing rapid growth. And it scares some of them to think it could get worse if Amazon selects the Mile High City for its second headquarters, also referred to as HQ2.

Read more at: https://www.bisnow.com/denver/news/economic-development/tk-85602?be=rpetrine%40gmail.com&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fri-02-mar-2018-000000-0500_dc-re?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser

Congested roads. Escalating housing prices. A stressed education system. People who have lived in Denver for any length of time have witnessed these and other negative impacts on a city that is experiencing rapid growth. And it scares some of them to think it could get worse if Amazon selects the Mile High City for its second headquarters, also referred to as HQ2.

Read more at: https://www.bisnow.com/denver/news/economic-development/tk-85602?be=rpetrine%40gmail.com&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fri-02-mar-2018-000000-0500_dc-re?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser

Congested roads. Escalating housing prices. A stressed education system. People who have lived in Denver for any length of time have witnessed these and other negative impacts on a city that is experiencing rapid growth. And it scares some of them to think it could get worse if Amazon selects the Mile High City for its second headquarters, also referred to as HQ2.

Read more at: https://www.bisnow.com/denver/news/economic-development/tk-85602?be=rpetrine%40gmail.com&utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fri-02-mar-2018-000000-0500_dc-re?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser