What you need to know about Philadelphia's bid for Amazon's new headquarters
There are so many questions surrounding Amazon's desire for a second headquarters. Here are a few answers.
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With bids having been due Thursday for Amazon's second headquarters, here are the prime questions people in our area might be asking as Philadelphia and other cities seek to lure the online retail giant:
Who is Philadelphia competing against nationally? Everyone. Plus Toronto and maybe Mexico.
Who are we competing against locally? Area locales that have expressed public interest in luring HQ2 include Atlantic City, Bayonne, Camden and Newark in New Jersey; Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Delaware County and Chester City, Bristol Township, Bensalem and the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania and Wilmington. New Jersey plans to offer $7 billion in tax credits if Amazon moves to Newark and meets its hiring benchmarks. Pennsylvania's tax break offer may top only $1 billion. Not all of the locations have confirmed their bids, however.
What does Amazon want? For its new HQ, the online behemoth seeks a large metropolitan area, tax breaks, a business-friendly environment, highway infrastructure and a nearby major airport, a mass-transit system, residential areas where people want to live, and more tax breaks. (Play the role of Amazon with our interactive tool and decide where the new HQ should go.)
Who are the leading contenders? According to Moody's, the front-runners are Austin, Atlanta and Philadelphia. The New York Times predicted Denver, among a final four that also had Boston, Washington, and Portland, Oregon. Slate said that "Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, and Philly are probably the most compelling choices" but didn't think any city ticked all of Amazon's boxes. The rumor mill has always liked Boston.
Which sites is Philly pitching? Philly's pitch revolves around three sites: the Schuylkill Yards and uCity Square sites in West Philadelphia, and the Navy Yard in South Philadelphia.
What happens next? Amazon honchos, consultants and more will go through all the bids — although some are likely to be tossed directly into the trash no matter how compelling their pitch.