Amazon decided to split HQ2 months

For more than a year, Amazon has kept secret search of its second headquarters, nicknamed HQ2, leaving the public and even the cities that had proposed to live only rumors.

On November 5, the Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon was planning to split its seat in two. It was the first time that a solution of this type was reported, but according to an Amazon executive, it was in preparation for months.

Jay Carney, vice president of Amazon, told the New York Times that the decision to split seat 2 was made at a meeting in August. The research team decided it would be easier to find the 50,000 employees it intended to recruit if it shared the office between two sites.

A spokesman for Amazon later told the Times that this decision was made in September. The company did not immediately respond to Business Insider's comment request.

Read more: The losers of the HQ2 contest from Amazon have been revealed – but some locals rejoice

On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that some city officials may have had suspicions about the possibility that Amazon divides the headquarters even before the official announcement.

"During a second visit to Los Angeles, a city official asked if Amazon should divide its headquarters between several cities because there was not enough technology talent in one place." Ms. Sullivan and her staff seemed to give themselves a warned look, "Journal wrote.

Holly Sullivan is the Amazonian executive who led the research of QG2.

The Journal first stated that the decision to have two Headquarters 2 sites was linked to the company's ability to recruit enough technology talent.

Amazon reiterated this in its blog post announcing selections on Tuesday.

"We can recruit more talent from the top two," the company said. "These are fantastic cities that attract a lot of talent."

It would also allow Amazon to mitigate housing and transit problems.

"It's easier for communities to absorb a floor of 25,000 people," Carney told The Times.

These issues have been highlighted at Amazon's headquarters in Seattle, where locals are complaining of soaring rents, protracted construction, gentrification and traffic jammed with traffic jams.

Learn more about Amazon's HQ2 project: