“Amazon has held advanced discussions about the possibility of opening its highly sought-after second headquarters in Crystal City, including how quickly it would move employees there, which buildings it would occupy and how an announcement about the move would be made to the public, according to people close to the process,” reported The Washington Post on Saturday.
Yesterday the New York Times wrote that Amazon is likely to choose two cities: Arlington, VA and Long Island City in Queens.
“After conducting a yearlong search for a second home, Amazon has switched gears and is now finalizing plans to have a total of 50,000 employees in two locations, according to people familiar with the decision-making process,” wrote the Times.
“The company is nearing a deal to move to the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, according to two of the people briefed on the discussions. Amazon is also close to a deal to move to the Crystal City area of Arlington, Va., a Washington suburb, one of the people said. Amazon already has more employees in those two areas than anywhere else outside of Seattle, its home base, and the Bay Area.”
The Washington Post reported that discussions around Crystal City were more detailed than those the company has had regarding Northern Virginia locations, adding to speculation that the site in Arlington County is a front-runner to land the online retail giant’s second North American headquarters with its 50,000 jobs.
“The company is so close to making its choice that Crystal City’s top real estate developer, JBG Smith, has pulled some of its buildings off the leasing market and officials in the area have discussed how to make an announcement to the public this month, following the midterm elections, according to public and private-sector officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because Amazon has asked that the selection process remain confidential. The company may be having similar discussions with other finalists.”
Mayor Peduto said that they have not heard from Amazon since this past summer.
Speculation has intensified as the announcement, which Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos promised by year’s end, draws near. Many have predicted that Northern Virginia would win out among the other 19 cities on the short list for a number of reasons, including the fact Jeff Bezos bought a house there and he is the owner of The Washington Post. The location would also be ideal for lobbying and it’s near an international airport on the east coast.
The area would not fit other criteria Amazon has outlined.
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