Amazon could divide the new HQ2 headquarters between two sites



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The search for a second seat of Amazon.com, throughout the year, is coming to an end, said people aware.

The e-commerce giant is close to agreements that would divide the new headquarters between two localities, said one of the interviewees, who asked not to be identified during discussions on non-public issues. One will be the Crystal City area in Arlington, northern Virginia, said two people. Another city will be Long Island City, in the New York neighborhood of Queens, said other people. A spokeswoman for Amazon declined to comment.

Last year, Amazon announced its intention to invest $ 5 billion in a second headquarters and hire up to 50,000 people, sparking a frenzy of interest in US and Canadian cities. He has announced 20 finalists and is expected to make a final decision by the end of the year.

New York Time Previously, Amazon was about to negotiate Long Island City, and the Wall Street Journal announced that Amazon will choose two sites after deciding that a site lacked technology talent. The Washington Post had previously reported that Amazon was in advanced talks to set up its second head office in Crystal City, which is located across the Potomac River. The neighborhood includes a concentration of high-rise offices, hotels and residential buildings.

Amazon has fueled an economic boom in his hometown of Seattle, where he is often blamed for traffic problems and soaring housing costs that is forcing some residents to leave the city. By choosing more than one location, he may seek to avoid criticism that his arrival will encroach on the local infrastructure.

"You can look at Seattle and see that it has had a lot of positive consequences, but it has probably also had some unforeseen events that may not have been as well received," said Michael Lewis, Real Estate Analyst. at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Inc. "You can see what it has done for the cost of living in Seattle."

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo met with the highest officials in the Amazon two weeks ago to discuss the company's move to Long Island City, an informed person said. This would place the operations in an area of ​​Queens directly from the East River to Manhattan. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also met with Amazon executives around the same time, a city official said. The Mayor's office has been conducting visits to the region since April and has brought together officials from several New York City universities to explain ways to meet Amazon's needs, said the person.

Long Island, New York's fastest-growing district, will receive a $ 180 million capital injection to build and improve schools, streets and parks, de Blasio said. last week. This plan is part of an investment strategy being developed for three years, during which time the Queens district has led a construction boom throughout the city. Apartment towers were started in Long Island City, with 1,436 new units approved in the 12 months ending July 1st.

Long Island City is served by 8 subway lines, 13 bus lines, East River Ferry, Long Island Railroad, two bridges and a tunnel linking it to Manhattan. It also has quick access to LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airports.

According to the New York Times, Amazon has more employees in the two selected areas than anywhere else in Seattle, where is headquartered, and in the San Francisco Bay area.

Some of the finalists are close to each other and come from the same job pools. New York City and Newark, New Jersey were among the finalists, as were Washington, Virginia, and Montgomery County, Maryland. Amazon could have chosen a single metropolitan area, but still had to negotiate with several states and local governments for tax incentives.

When meeting with Amazon executives, Governor Cuomo said he was willing to offer the company hundreds of millions of dollars in bonuses, said the manager. "I'm doing everything I can," Governor Cuomo told reporters Monday, questioned Monday about the state's efforts to attract the company. "We have an excellent incentive program," he said.

"I will change my name to Amazon Cuomo if that's what it takes," Governor Cuomo said. "Because it would be a great economic boost."

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