Amazon: The Thread | 5,000 Jobs | 1M SQFT in Nashville Yards

[BnaBreaker]

27 minutes ago, Nathan_in_DC said:

I am rooting for Philadelphia for this one. Makes business sense for Amazon, and would be a much needed shot in the arm for a great city. Unfortunately, the more and more I think about it, the more I think it would cause Nashville massive amounts of short term economic harm (through HUGE increases in the cost of living), and long term impacts on its very soul. Nashville just isn't ready for it, but Philadelphia could absorb it.

The more I think about it, the more I agree with this line of thinking completely.  Nashville just isn't big enough to absorb the hit without completely sacrificing it's soul in the process.  

[bigeasy]

I certainly don't want the cost of living to go up even more. Already hard to stomach the 25% increase in cost of living but only around a 15% increase in wages here.

[Binbin98]

I honestly hope another large company relocates their headquarters to Nashville than amazon, such as a big healthcare or logistics company. In my dreams I would love it if Schneider Electric or Royal Philips created a second NA headquarters in Nashville, but I doubt that will happen anytime soon  

[wmaddbb2018]

We should just wait and put a bid in, in 2025 for Amazon’s HQ3....  100 jobs and a 1 million dollar investment from them  jk 

[FromParkAveToTN]

The city Amazon picks for its HQ2 will change forever http://cnnmon.ie/2yQEeWz

Edited October 27, 2017 by FromParkAveToTN

[dmillsphoto]

[NashRugger]

Well that's a clear case of "no crap."

[markhollin]

Those who are trying to land Amazon's HQ2 should see what is happening in Seattle with HQ1:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2017/11/01/amazon-hq1-seattle-campus-day1-doppler-towers-tour.html

[nashvylle]

Nashville listed as #6. Dallas the front runner right now. I.E. who knows? My guess- Newark.

https://therealdeal.com/2017/11/14/amazon-does-dallas-texas-city-tops-new-ranking-for-best-hq2-location/

[NissanvilleTitans]

1 hour ago, nashvylle said:

Nashville listed as #6. Dallas the front runner right now. I.E. who knows? My guess- Newark.

https://therealdeal.com/2017/11/14/amazon-does-dallas-texas-city-tops-new-ranking-for-best-hq2-location/

How is Atlanta third and fifth?

[markhollin]

Here is summary of Wall Street Journal's ranking of Nashville (ted for #6) in possible landing spot for Amazon HQ2:

https://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/news/2017/11/15/wall-street-journal-nashville-in-top-10-for.html

Regarding the pie graphs below: I think it's odd that we get a zero on college population when we have at least 14 universities within a 60 mile radius with enrollment of over 100,000.  Also, a zero in Tech Labor Force seems a bit harsh.  I would think it might get at least a 10% share.  Fiscal Health also seems a tad low.  Our economy is quite diversified and booming, unemployment is at 2% (one of the best rates in the entire nation) and Davidson and surrounding counties tax base is in terrific shape.

[memphian]

Scary that Nashville's "College Population" is so low. I don't think the "Tech Labor Force"  score is any big shocker. Overall I would say Nashville is in pretty good company in these rankings - aside from Newark (which benefits from proximity to NYC) these are top-tier American cities.

[dmillsphoto]

The tech force here is, per capita, embarrassingly low for a city of our size.

[Outskirts]

That is quite odd that Nashville scores so low in college population--not sure what to think about that. Austin basically being zero is unexpected as well considering  the University of Texas sports an enrollment of well over 50,000  on its own with Texas State (35,000 +) just 30 miles away.

[Ingram]

Maybe the people who created the ranking don't know what they're doing.

Edited November 15, 2017 by Ingram

[ZestyEd]

Im assuming some of you are not able to read the WSJ article so I attached the Methodology for their analysis.  The one thing this is not taking into consideration is Site and Time to Operations.  Which can change the rankings.   Again where is there 100 acres available and ready to build now in Boston? This is where I believe a southern State will win out.

*Newark includes all of Northern New Jersey

COLLEGE POPULATION: Percentage of population that is college educated.

TECH LABOR FORCE: Total labor force in a tech occupation. Includes tech jobs not in the tech industry.

FISCAL HEALTH: Cities are scored on metrics including ratio of general fund balance to expenditures; ratio of pension contributions to total government-wide revenues; change in unemployment rate in 2015; and change in property values in 2015.

COST OF LIVING: Estimated cost of living for mid-management households by weighting different consumer expenditure categories.

CULTURAL FIT: Sites that reflect "Cultural Community Fit" and "Community/Quality of Life" as outlined in the Amazon request-for-proposals. Strong universities, diverse population, recreational opportunities, and an overall high quality of life. Excludes government incentive packages.

STATE TAX RANK: Rank of tax rates (including corporate, income and property-tax ranks). One is lowest tax state, 50 is highest tax state.

• Site/Building - A greenfield site of approximately 100 acres certified or pad ready.
• Capital and Operating Costs - A stable and business-friendly environment and tax structure will be high-priority. 
• Incentives - land, site preparation, tax credits/exemptions, relocation grants, workforce grants, utility incentives/grants, permitting, and fee reductions
• Labor Force -  Strong University system. 
• Logistics – Travel time to an international airport with daily direct flights to Seattle, New York, San Francisco/Bay Area, and Washington, D.C. is also an important consideration.
• Time to Operations – To begin Construction as soon as possible  
• Cultural Community Fit – a diverse population, strong higher-education system, and local government that is eager and willing to work with the company.
• Community/quality of life - The new headquarters should be in a place where people want to live.

Edited November 15, 2017 by ZestyEd

[MidTenn1]

1 hour ago, ZestyEd said:

• Site/Building - A greenfield site of approximately 100 acres certified or pad ready. (CHECK)
• Capital and Operating Costs - A stable and business-friendly environment and tax structure will be high-priority. ......(CHECK)
• Incentives - land, site preparation, tax credits/exemptions, relocation grants, workforce grants, utility incentives/grants, permitting, and fee reductions.......(CHECK)
• Labor Force -  Strong University system. ......(CHECK)
• Logistics – Travel time to an international airport with daily direct flights to Seattle, New York, San Francisco/Bay Area, and Washington, D.C. is also an important consideration.........(CHECK)
• Time to Operations – To begin Construction as soon as possible  ........(CHECK)
• Cultural Community Fit – a diverse population, strong higher-education system, and local government that is eager and willing to work with the company......(CHECK)
• Community/quality of life - The new headquarters should be in a place where people want to live..........(DOUBLE CHECK)

!!

[urbanplanet17]

Another list below, with an interesting spin to it.

http://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/atlanta_will_be_amazons_new_home.aspx

[smeagolsfree]

I am sure there is a group out there say Boise Idaho will be picked. No one knows and all of these list are subjective including the WSJ.

I dont even know if Boise is even in the running or not.

[urbanplanet17]

23 minutes ago, smeagolsfree said:

I am sure there is a group out there say Boise Idaho will be picked. No one knows and all of these list are subjective including the WSJ.

I dont even know if Boise is even in the running or not.

It is!

http://www.ktvb.com/news/local/boise-makes-bid-for-2nd-amazon-hq/486153779

[titanhog]

I still think the highest bidder wins out.  The city that is willing to make a crazy offer that no one else is willing to make.

[BnaBreaker]

8 hours ago, Outskirts said:

That is quite odd that Nashville scores so low in college population--not sure what to think about that. Austin basically being zero is unexpected as well considering  the University of Texas sports an enrollment of well over 50,000  on its own with Texas State (35,000 +) just 30 miles away.

Weird wording on their part, but I think they're referring to the college educated population, not the student population.

[MidTenn1]

Quote

 

Another list. This time from CNBC where they give A through F grades to various categorical qualities.

Nashville gets a B-  along with Atlanta, Austin, DC/North Va. and Seattle (?). The combined Charlotte/Raleigh and Greensboro area gets  a B.

 

From the article......

City, State	Population	Stability	Talent	Location	GPA	Letter Avg
Chicago, IL	A+	F	D-	C-	1.66	D+
Newark NJ	A+	F	D+	F	1.42	D+
New York, NY	A+	F	F	F	1.25	D
Cle/Col/Cin, OH	A+	F	F	B-	1.67	C-
Austin, TX	A+	F	C	A-	2.5	B-
Atlanta, GA	A+	B-	C-	C-	2.6	B-
Seattle, WA	A+	D+	B+	D+	2.58	B-
Denver, CO	A+	B-	B-	F	2.42	C+
Salt Lake City, UT	A+	B-	C-	D+	2.5	B-
Orlando FL	A+	B-	F	C	2.17	C
PGH/PHL, PA	A+	F	F	D	1.25	D+
Detroit MI	A+	D+	D+	C+	2.33	C+
Boston MA	A+	D+	B+	F	2.25	C+
Minneapolis MN	A+	C-	B-	D-	2.34	C+
DC/VA	A+	C	A-	F	2.5	B-
Portland, OR	A+	F	D-	D+	1.58	C-
RAL/CLT/GSO, NC	A+	C+	C-	B-	2.75	B
Hickory, NC	F	C+	C-	B-	1.67	C-
PHO/TUC, AZ	A+	D+	D+	F	1.75	C
Nashville, TN	A+	A-	F	B-	2.67	B-
Las Vegas, NV	A+	C	F	C-	2	C
Anchorage, AK	F	F	F	F	0	F
Scarborough, ME	F	F	F	F	0	F

[Binbin98]

1 hour ago, PHofKS said:

Another list. This time from CNBC where they give A through F grades to various categorical qualities.

Nashville gets a B-  along with Atlanta, Austin, DC/North Va. and Seattle (?). The combined Charlotte/Raleigh and Greensboro area gets  a B.

 

From the article......

City, State	Population	Stability	Talent	Location	GPA	Letter Avg
Chicago, IL	A+	F	D-	C-	1.66	D+
Newark NJ	A+	F	D+	F	1.42	D+
New York, NY	A+	F	F	F	1.25	D
Cle/Col/Cin, OH	A+	F	F	B-	1.67	C-
Austin, TX	A+	F	C	A-	2.5	B-
Atlanta, GA	A+	B-	C-	C-	2.6	B-
Seattle, WA	A+	D+	B+	D+	2.58	B-
Denver, CO	A+	B-	B-	F	2.42	C+
Salt Lake City, UT	A+	B-	C-	D+	2.5	B-
Orlando FL	A+	B-	F	C	2.17	C
PGH/PHL, PA	A+	F	F	D	1.25	D+
Detroit MI	A+	D+	D+	C+	2.33	C+
Boston MA	A+	D+	B+	F	2.25	C+
Minneapolis MN	A+	C-	B-	D-	2.34	C+
DC/VA	A+	C	A-	F	2.5	B-
Portland, OR	A+	F	D-	D+	1.58	C-
RAL/CLT/GSO, NC	A+	C+	C-	B-	2.75	B
Hickory, NC	F	C+	C-	B-	1.67	C-
PHO/TUC, AZ	A+	D+	D+	F	1.75	C
Nashville, TN	A+	A-	F	B-	2.67	B-
Las Vegas, NV	A+	C	F	C-	2	C
Anchorage, AK	F	F	F	F	0	F
Scarborough, ME	F	F	F	F	0	F

Nowhere in North Carolina is going to get the Amazon headquarters. I know this because of the stupid anti-lgbt laws they pass in the local government over there. Regardless of your view on them they tend to keep liberal companies (such as Amazon from freaking Seattle of all liberal places) out due to the fact that the quality of life wont be the same for all workers under those laws. We are leaving this out of the equation, but I feel it really DOES make a difference, especially since places like Austin have similar or better tech talent then Raleigh and generally have a more liberal environment. Paypal backed out, why should Amazon follow the same path?

[Flatrock]

6 hours ago, PHofKS said:

Another list. This time from CNBC where they give A through F grades to various categorical qualities.

I wonder what parameters and metrics constitute 'Stability'...? Lots of fails there, though we did well. Interesting.