Queenboro Plaza
Oct. 19, 2017 by Nathaly Pesantez
Long Island City has been selected by the city as a proposed site for Amazon’s second headquarters, officials announced last night.
The bid, submitted by the city to Amazon on Oct. 18 in partnership with New York State, and just a day shy from the tech company’s deadline, includes four districts within the five boroughs that meet the “essential criteria” Amazon listed in its request for proposals announced early September.
In describing Long Island City within the proposal, the Economic Development Corporation noted the neighborhood’s legacy as an industrial innovation center and its proximity to transportation networks, including train lines and airports. The neighborhood’s restaurants, bars, cafes, and arts and culture institutions were also listed as attractive components to lure Amazon to the area.
The proposal also identified over 13 million square feet of real estate that could be used to fulfill Amazon’s RFP.
Other districts included in the proposal were Midtown West, the Brooklyn Tech Triangle, and Lower Manhattan. The districts were chosen from more than two dozen proposals submitted to the city. Letters of support for Long Island City as a possible site were also sent to de Blasio by Queens Borough president Melinda Katz and Assemblymember Catherine Nolan, with Council member Jimmy Van Bramer also expressing his support. All three signed a letter, along with more than 70 elected officials from the five boroughs, sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, on New York City’s potential as a home for Amazon HQ2.
“New York City is able to offer the single most important resource a growing company requires: talent,” part of the Oct. 16 letter reads.
In a separate letter written to Bezos by de Blasio, the mayor emphasizes New York City as a place that “can deliver”. “The case for New York City is simple: we are the global capital of commerce, culture and innovation,” de Blasio wrote.
Amazon’s second headquarters is expected to bring 50,000 jobs and an investment of over $5 billion to a North American location. The tech company, based in Seattle, is seeking to build 500,000 square-feet of commercial space by 2019 for their second headquarters, and an additional 8 million square feet after 2027.
A North American location is expected to be announced in 2018 after Amazon reviews proposals and negotiates with developers.
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15 Comments
Want to improve the neighborhood Frank?
Move.
Nah…the quality of residents is improving and my property is getting more valuable by the day. You are free to leave and improve it, though.
Frank, stop thinking of yourself for once. Think about he people that can’t afford the increased home prices & Rents. I know it;s hard for you but try.
Frank is the worst real estate troll
Frank is a market enthusiast. The free market could do no wrong whatsoever.
Paying your rent is your problem, much like paying my rent is mine. The neighborhood will not suffer by losing people who cannot afford the increased rents…it will probably benefit.
You have so much to say about the people who can’t afford the neighborhood, that I’m surprised you don’t own. The increased rent will eventually push you out too.
Who says I don’t own or even rent to tenants as a landlord? Obviously rhetorical statements are lost on you.
Frank is the Hypergentrified Archie Bunker.
What would this to home prices in LIC if Amazon moved here?
Increase them. By a lot. Rents too. Fingers crossed for the proposal to go through.
Where is this “13 million square feet of real estate”?
On top of Sunnyside Yard.
And let the $477 billion company pay for it.
I assume it’s all the converted warehouse space on Borden Ave by Fresh Direct and near LaGuardia Community College.