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Amazon In 'Advanced Talks' To Open Headquarters In Washington DC Area (theguardian.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Guardian: Amazon is in "advanced talks" to open its second headquarters in the Washington DC metropolitan area, the Washington Post, a paper owned by Amazon founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos, reported on Saturday. Amazon, which is headquartered in Seattle, is seriously considering an area known as Crystal City, a large residential and office complex in Arlington, Virginia, just south of Washington, the Post reported, citing unidentified sources. The Washington metropolitan area has long been considered a top contender. As well as owning the Post, Bezos has a home in the area. When the company announced a list of 20 top contenders in January, it included Washington and Montgomery county, Maryland, which is just north of the city. Crystal City is served by a mass transit system and major highways, both qualifications Amazon has said are required.
Arlington has among the best quality of life ratings in the country. But, what ultimately matters here is the Potomac Yards, which is owned by a REIT known as JBG Smith that Amazon is in advanced talks to purchase. Their stock price has soared this week. There is nowhere else in the country where you have the quality of life of Arlington, heavy rail mass transit, and 100 acres of land to be developed. Crystal City is also a blank slate these days - DoD contractors and offices have moved elsewhere so it gives Amazon the opportunity to create their own city within a city. And as other posters have mentioned, Amazon needs political influence more than any other company. All of that said, being a native New Yorker, I would say that Newark would have done the most good out of all other options.