Amazon's second headquarters clears key Virginia funding vote

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

BUSINESS NEWS MARCH 16, 2019 / 7:36 PM / UPDATED 32 MINUTES AGO

Amazon's second headquarters clears key Virginia funding vote

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A financial package worth an estimated $51 million for Amazon.com Inc’s second headquarters in northern Virginia was approved by the Arlington County Board on Saturday, helping the company clear a key hurdle amid protests.

Amazon in November picked National Landing, a site jointly owned by Arlington County and the City of Alexandria, just outside Washington, along with New York City for its so-called HQ2 or second headquarters.

The company has since scrapped its plans to build its headquarters in New York.

Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Daniel Wallis

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-headquarters-vote/amazons-second-headquarters-clears-key-virginia-funding-vote-idUSKCN1QX0RG

[comradebillyboy]

1. That location should have the technical talent that Amazon needs.

And I doubt if any congress critters in Virginia are looking to chase jobs away.

[nitpicker]

2. BREAKING: County Board Approves Amazon Incentive Package

https://www.arlnow.com/2019/03/16/breaking-county-board-approves-amazon-incentive-package/

BREAKING: County Board Approves Amazon Incentive Package

by Airey — March 16, 2019 at 7:55 pm

(Updated at 8:30 p.m.) Arlington officials have unanimously approved an incentive package offered to lure Amazon to the county, after hearing impassioned public testimony both for and against the tech giant’s “HQ2” plans. The vote clears the way for the company to officially begin developing the site as early as this year.
(snip)

((The county’s incentive package was first publicly released earlier this month and features a 15-year, estimated $23 million incentive given to Amazon if the tech-and-retail giant meets office space occupancy goals over several years. The company would need to fill 60,000 square feet of office space starting in June of 2020 and meet benchmarks towards occupying 6 million square feet by 2035.))

It also includes a plan to use estimated hotel tax stay revenue to fund $28 million in transportation upgrades near Amazon’s headquarters over the next decade.
(snip)

Amazon also drew criticism for potentially shrinking affordable housing in the region which is already squeezed. Several landlords and real estate firms expressed support of the company locating to Pentagon City and Crystal City, but other speakers shared worries that rent prices are already rising.

“When we have community that isn’t transient, that has staying power, we have a stronger community.” said Page Cooper, who said her 13-month lease shrunk to 8 months when it came time to renew last year.
(snip)