Curbed Chicago - Amazon HQ2 Chicago: news and updatesLove where you live2019-02-08T16:51:58-06:00http://chicago.curbed.com/rss/stream/161896692019-02-08T16:51:58-06:002019-02-08T16:51:58-06:00As Amazon rethinks NY deal, Chicago wants another chance at HQ2
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<figcaption>Illustration by Alyssa Nassner</figcaption>
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<p>The tech company is “exploring alternatives” after facing intense opposition in the Empire State</p> <p id="J8kUGW">Chicago may get another crack at Amazon HQ2 following a report that <a href="https://ny.curbed.com/2019/2/8/18217129/amazon-hq2-new-york-long-island-city-reconsider">the tech giant was reconsidering</a> plans to put half of its campus in New York’s Long Island City. As a result, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel both reached out to Amazon to throw Chicago’s hat back in the ring, according to <a href="https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/pritzker-makes-new-move-lure-amazon-hq2-here?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=SocialFlow"><em>Crain’s</em></a>.</p>
<p id="9Ax1Hw">Since declaring Long Island City and Arlington, Virginia as <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/11/13/18091662/amazon-hq2-selection-not-chicago">HQ2’s co-winners</a> back in November, Amazon faced <a href="https://ny.curbed.com/2018/11/14/18095799/amazon-hq2-long-island-city-rally-critics">mounting criticism</a> from some New York residents and politicians. Issues included questionable economic incentives and the company’s stance on unions.</p>
<p id="Cjp2Wh">Leaders in Chicago and Springfield, however, appear willing to overlook such concerns and once again court Amazon and its promise of 25,000 jobs. Chicago’s prior bid pledged at least $2.253 billion in tax breaks and other financial incentives to the Seattle-based company, according to <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/12/17/18145150/chicago-amazon-hq2-bid-incentives-details">documents revealed late last year</a>.</p>
<p id="gFCrwr">Amazon’s reportedly favorite Chicago site—a 62-acre riverfront parcel known as “The 78”—has steadily forged ahead, clearing several key hurdles since the company’s decision to go elsewhere. The $7 billion megaproject from Related Midwest earned <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/11/15/18097261/the-78-related-midwest-city-approval">zoning entitlements</a>, unveiled plans for a new <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/2/1/18207274/15th-street-red-line-station-related-the-78">$300 million CTA station</a>, and received <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicagoDPD/status/1092903645925003265">preliminary approval for a tax-increment financing (TIF) district</a> worth more than $550 million. </p>
<p id="QggnV3">Amazon’s interest in “exploring alternatives” to the contentious New York deal, however, may turn out the be little more than a hardball negotiation tactic. The story first appeared in the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/facing-opposition-amazon-reconsiders-ny-headquarters-site-two-officials-say/2019/02/08/451ffc52-2a19-11e9-b011-d8500644dc98_story.html?utm_term=.347c2a1c75d2"><em>Washington</em> <em>Post</em></a>, a publication owned by Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos. </p>
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<cite>Related Midwest</cite>
<figcaption>Of the <a class="ql-link" href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/23/16512138/chicago-amazon-hq2-bid" target="_blank">ten sites comprising Chicago’s official HQ2 bid</a>, the Amazon was most interested in “The 78,” according to city officials and developer Related Midwest.</figcaption>
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<ul>
<li id="2a3DDE">
<a href="https://ny.curbed.com/2019/2/8/18217129/amazon-hq2-new-york-long-island-city-reconsider">Amazon reconsidering HQ2 deal amid fierce opposition</a> [Curbed New York]</li>
<li id="00UqSP">
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/facing-opposition-amazon-reconsiders-ny-headquarters-site-two-officials-say/2019/02/08/451ffc52-2a19-11e9-b011-d8500644dc98_story.html?utm_term=.347c2a1c75d2">Facing opposition, Amazon reconsiders NY headquarters site, two officials say</a> [Washington Post]</li>
<li id="PHxGaQ">
<a href="https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/pritzker-makes-new-move-lure-amazon-hq2-here">Pritzker makes new move to lure Amazon HQ2 here</a> [Crain’s]</li>
</ul>
https://chicago.curbed.com/2019/2/8/18217514/amazon-hq2-chicago-second-chanceJay Koziarz2018-12-17T15:41:56-06:002018-12-17T15:41:56-06:00Report sheds new light on Chicago’s bid for Amazon HQ2
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<p>Chicago was one of five finalists and Amazon was most interested in The 78</p> <p id="FKSnJA">More than one month after Amazon announced its decision to split its HQ2 campus between <a href="https://www.curbed.com/amazon-second-headquarters-cities">Arlington, Virginia and New York City</a>, new details regarding Chicago’s failed bid to land the lucrative corporate expansion surfaced in documents made public by Freedom of Information Act request published by <a href="https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/chicago-lifts-veil-its-amazon-hq2-bid"><em>Crain’s</em></a><em>. </em></p>
<p id="aGo2VM">While plenty of Chicago residents and journalists were more than happy to finally put the HQ2 saga in the city’s collective rearview mirror, the report does provide some interesting insight into the bid process including Amazon’s interests and concerns as well as the financial incentives being offered to the e-commerce and cloud computing powerhouse. </p>
<p id="SizPVm">Here are 8 of the biggest takeaways and eyebrow-raising details highlighted in the report: </p>
<ul>
<li id="QLcp2p">Chicago was one of five finalist cities in the running to land HQ2. During its 13-month-long search, Amazon officials <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/19/17138774/amazon-hq2-chicago-site-visit">visited</a> five of the <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/23/16512138/chicago-amazon-hq2-bid">ten development sites</a> listed in Chicago’s formal bid. These include <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/5/11/17340660/the-78-related-midwest-amazon-hq2">The 78</a>, <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/5/25/17394824/lincoln-yards-development-north-branch">Lincoln Yards</a>, the <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/10/19/17990532/skyscrapers-lakeshore-east-union-station-river-district">River District</a>, <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/neighborhood/302/fulton-market">Fulton Market District</a>, and the <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/16/16482386/micheal-reese-hospital-burnham-lakefront">Burnham Lakefront</a>. </li>
<li id="Lj3HZh">The Seattle-based tech giant was most interested in The 78, developer Related Midwest’s vacant 62-acre riverfront parcel between the South Loop and Chinatown. Amazon reps made a second visit to The 78, but not a third as indicated by some sources. </li>
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<cite>Related Midwest</cite>
<figcaption>A rendering of The 78.</figcaption>
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<ul>
<li id="T6Koo2">City, state, and county officials pledged at least $2.253 billion in tax breaks and other financial incentives to Amazon. The figure includes payroll credits, sales tax exemptions on construction costs, property tax breaks, and investments such as transit improvements and workforce training.</li>
<li id="H7tmBL">A letter signed by Governor Bruce Rauner, Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle indicated a vague promise to “consider other incentives that represent sound economic policy” once Amazon further narrowed its search. For comparison, New York offered the company <a href="https://ny.curbed.com/2018/11/16/18098589/amazon-hq2-nyc-queens-long-island-city-explained">nearly $3 billion</a> for its half of the HQ2 prize.</li>
<li id="Eca0sY">In addition to saving Amazon loads of money, Chicago officials hoped to save the company time as well. The city’s Build Department was prepared to offer the company a “concierge service” to streamline not only construction permits for HQ2 itself but also for the homes of its workers and executives.</li>
<li id="dYFHv5">Amazon was concerned with Chicago’s struggle with violent crime, revealed emails uncovered by <em>Crain’s</em>. Deputy Mayor Bob Rivkin responded by describing a rise in murders as “a spike” and said police had made progress on the issue.</li>
<li id="9EjQdu">Feeling good about their chances and wanting be prepared for any eventuality, City Hall preemptively drafted a press release announcing Chicago as the winner of HQ2. “Today Chicago begins a close partnership with Amazon as it builds its new home and continues to reach new heights for generations to come,” said Mayor Emanuel in a document cited in the report.</li>
<li id="e1akBA">The FOIA request does not, however, reveal how much money the public-private partnership known as World Business Chicago sank in drafting the Chicago bid. It was rumored that William Shatner was paid $50,000 for voiceover work as part of the city’s <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/23/17157232/chicago-amazon-bid-video-william-shatner">official bid video</a>, but that figure remains unconfirmed. </li>
</ul>
<p id="Q4g0bW">These documents illustrate not only the complexity of the bidding process but also the lengths to which a city like Chicago would go to lure the company and its coveted 50,000 tech jobs. Whether you believe Chicago missed out or <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/10/17/16488894/amazon-seattle-headquarters-south-lake-union">dodged a potential bullet</a>, the fact that the city ranked so favorably in such an intense global competition is certainly encouraging. </p>
<aside id="Qh7m1H"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"chicago-curbed"}'></div></aside><ul>
<li id="x8U5i5">
<a href="https://www.chicagobusiness.com/greg-hinz-politics/chicago-lifts-veil-its-amazon-hq2-bid">Chicago lifts the veil on its Amazon HQ2 bid</a> [Crain’s]</li>
<li id="tCYcop">
<a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/10/17/16488894/amazon-seattle-headquarters-south-lake-union">What the Amazon HQ2 cities can learn from Seattle</a> [Curbed]</li>
<li id="4zVUC7">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/4/16425628/amazon-hq2-headquarters-chicago">Amazon HQ2 Chicago: News and updates</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
</ul>
https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/12/17/18145150/chicago-amazon-hq2-bid-incentives-detailsJay Koziarz2018-11-13T11:45:08-06:002018-11-13T11:45:08-06:00Amazon officially passes on Chicago for HQ2
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<p>The tech giant choses Arlington, Virginia and New York City</p> <p id="9Kv7ra">Chicago’s Amazon saga is over. After much <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/11/5/18065580/amazon-hq2-chicago-crystal-city-new-york-dallas">speculation</a>, the massive online retailer finally announced on Tuesday that <a href="https://www.curbed.com/amazon-second-headquarters-cities">Arlington, Virginia and New York City</a> will be the home of its new headquarters. Instead of picking one location, the company decided to split it up. It also announced Nashville would get an operations center with 5,000 jobs. </p>
<p id="sksBOw">The proposals from 238 cities <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16504426/amazon-hq2-bid-urban-planning">went all out</a>, and Chicago was a <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/1/18/16905126/amazon-new-headquarters-cities-hq2-chicago">top 20 contender</a> offering up <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/23/16512138/chicago-amazon-hq2-bid">10 development sites</a> within the city and suburbs. Now that Amazon has moved on, many of those projects will likely go forward as planned.</p>
<p id="oZkO86">Local leaders are struggling to find a way to push Chicago forward into a tech future where startups can grow into multimillion dollar companies and then remain in the city, according to the<a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-amazon-hq2-chicago-20181105-story.html"><em> Chicago Tribune</em></a> who spoke with Sonia Nagar, vice president at Pritzker Group Venture Capital. Other business leaders and investors interviewed generally felt Chicago’s priorities should focus on attracting tech talent, retaining it, and moving forward with the lessons learned in the Amazon bid process.</p>
<aside id="XDCFJs"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"chicago-curbed"}'></div></aside><p id="qMbbef">So what would have happened if Chicago had scored HQ2? Lots of city’s offered major economic incentives as part of their bids, so its very likely that Chicago would have bent over backwards to appease. The new headquarters would have brought an estimated 50,000 jobs (25,000 when split between two sites) and impact housing needs, transportation, and city resources. </p>
<p id="Jnbw2Y">Needless to say, it would be complicated and <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2017/10/17/16488894/amazon-seattle-headquarters-south-lake-union">not necessarily all that great, according to Seattleites</a> who already deal with the company’s primary headquarters on a daily basis. Wherever it calls home, Amazon’s influence looms. In its HQ2 announcement, the company is already <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2018/11/13/18091542/amazon-hq2-new-york-city-arlington-va-branding">rebranding</a> Crystal City in Virginia as National Landing. </p>
<p id="vrEInh">Review all of <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/4/16425628/amazon-hq2-headquarters-chicago">Chicago’s Amazon HQ2 news</a>, but keep up to date with the new headquarters locations on <a href="https://ny.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16503782/amazon-hq2-cities-nyc-proposal-news">Curbed New York</a> and <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2017/9/13/16301964/amazon-second-headquarters-dc-virginia-maryland">Curbed DC</a>.</p>
<ul>
<li id="c9QQiE">
<a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-amazon-hq2-chicago-20181105-story.html">Amazon didn’t choose Chicago for HQ2. Now what?</a> [Chicago Tribune]</li>
<li id="RESA59">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/4/16425628/amazon-hq2-headquarters-chicago">Amazon passes on Chicago for HQ2, here’s what happened</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
</ul>
https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/11/13/18091662/amazon-hq2-selection-not-chicagoSara Freund2018-11-05T15:55:29-06:002018-11-05T15:55:29-06:00Amazon narrows its HQ2 hunt and Chicago may not make the cut
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<figcaption>A conceptual rendering of Amazon HQ2 at Chicago’s Lincoln Yards development site. | Sterling Bay</figcaption>
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<p>Front-runners include Northern Virginia, New York, and Dallas</p> <p id="EPCk9Z">It’s been a busy few days in the ultra-competitive, nationwide hunt to land Amazon’s lucrative <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/4/16425628/amazon-hq2-headquarters-chicago">“HQ2” second headquarters</a>. New reports suggest that the company has narrowed its search to just a handful of cities and Chicago may not be among them. </p>
<p id="jgpTrf">According to a weekend report by the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/amazon-in-advanced-talks-about-putting-hq2-in-northern-virginia-those-close-to-process-say/2018/11/02/9be831d6-d7c0-11e8-aeb7-ddcad4a0a54e_story.html?utm_term=.2d5b6c33dbcb"><em>Washington Post</em></a><em>, </em>the e-commerce and cloud-computing giant is in “advanced talks” to bring HQ2—and its estimated 50,000 jobs and $5 billion of investment—to the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. The <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-in-late-stage-talks-with-cities-including-crystal-city-va-dallas-new-york-city-for-hq2-1541359441"><em>Wall Street Journal</em></a><em> </em>followed up with a report that Amazon was engaged in “late-stage talks” with not only Crystal City, but also New York and Dallas. </p>
<p id="eheI6v">Though Chicago was not mentioned among the municipalities participating in the negotiations, the newspaper did not necessarily rule out the Windy City. Chicago was one of the 20 cities named to the <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/1/18/16905126/amazon-new-headquarters-cities-hq2-chicago">HQ2 shortlist</a> in January and hosted Amazon delegates during <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-amazon-hq2-chicago-visit-20180926-story.html">multiple visits</a> to large-scale development sites including <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/10/31/18038290/the-78-related-midwest-south-loop-hq2">The 78</a>, <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/10/19/17990532/skyscrapers-lakeshore-east-union-station-river-district">River District</a>, and <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/7/19/17576244/lincoln-yards-development-sterling-bay-details">Lincoln Yards</a>.</p>
<p id="NzruwV">The plot thickened on Monday when <em>WSJ</em> published a second article saying that Amazon will <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-plans-to-split-hq2-evenly-between-two-cities-1541446552">split its HQ2 plans between two cities</a>, citing an unnamed source “familiar with the matter.” The decision to divide HQ2 would allow the company to draw employees from two separate talent pools and mitigate anticipated strains on local housing markets, transit networks, and other infrastructure, said the source.</p>
<p id="5Xhf0i">It’s unclear whether the two-city strategy would improve Chicago’s odds of scoring the coveted corporate campus. Chicago officials had offered the Seattle-based company several <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/23/16512138/chicago-amazon-hq2-bid">prominent development sites</a> and were prepared to provide $2 billion worth of incentives including tax breaks and associated infrastructure and capital expenditures. Chicago also commissioned a <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/23/17157232/chicago-amazon-bid-video-william-shatner">William Shatner-narrated pitch video</a> to appeal to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’s love of all things <em>Star Trek</em>. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Memo to the genius leaking info about Crystal City, VA as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HQ2?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HQ2</a> selection. You’re not doing Crystal City, VA any favors. And stop treating the NDA you signed like a used napkin. <a href="https://t.co/wqrZLqr8MQ">https://t.co/wqrZLqr8MQ</a></p>— Mike Grella (@MikeGrella) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGrella/status/1058768648884682753?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 3, 2018</a>
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<p id="buhtNc">Amazon’s director of economic development, Mike Grella, was quick to fire back at the recent reports, taking to <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGrella/status/1058768648884682753">Twitter</a> to say that leaking confidential bid information was “not doing Crystal City, VA any favors.” Grella also <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeGrella/status/1058777315050692608">dismissively lampooned</a> an article claiming that the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/where-bezoss-jet-flies-most--and-what-it-might-say-about-amazons-hq2/2018/11/02/792be19a-de16-11e8-b3f0-62607289efee_story.html?utm_term=.0c0e61aca6b0">flight logs of Bezos’s private jet</a> could hold the key to sussing out the HQ2 winner ahead of the company’s official announcement. </p>
<p id="LTnaUX">The Washington, D.C., area—which includes Crystal City—was <a href="https://www.curbed.com/2018/2/20/17033186/amazon-employees-hq2-arlington-va">rumored to be an HQ2 front-runner</a> ever since three nearby cities were named as finalists. The area’s proximity to federal regulators, the Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post, and the CEO’s <a href="https://dc.curbed.com/2017/1/12/14253490/bezos-jeff-museum-textile">large second home</a> further bolster that thesis. </p>
<p id="2VWc0d">Amazon said it will reveal the winning city—or perhaps, now, <em>cities</em>—by the end of the year. Will Chicago surprise the critics and oddsmakers and come through? Stay tuned to find out. </p>
<p id="9ECIpn"><em><strong>Update</strong></em>: The <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/05/technology/amazon-second-headquarters-split.html"><em>New York Times</em></a> reported that Amazon is “nearing a deal” to split HQ2 between the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, New York and the Crystal City location. Although Amazon declined to comment as to whether it had finalized its plans, more signs point to the 13-month-long HQ2 derby, described by some as an “<a href="https://www.curbed.com/2018/11/5/17111874/amazon-hq2-headquarters-winner-new-york-queens-crystal-city">urbanist Super Bowl</a>”, finally drawing to a close. </p>
<ul>
<li id="gRunYW">
<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/amazon-in-advanced-talks-about-putting-hq2-in-northern-virginia-those-close-to-process-say/2018/11/02/9be831d6-d7c0-11e8-aeb7-ddcad4a0a54e_story.html?utm_term=.2d5b6c33dbcb">Amazon in advanced talks about putting HQ2 in Northern Virginia, those close to process say</a> [Washington Post]</li>
<li id="EX9Dnm">
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-in-late-stage-talks-with-cities-including-crystal-city-va-dallas-new-york-city-for-hq2-1541359441">Amazon in Late-Stage Talks With Cities Including Crystal City, Va., Dallas, New York City for HQ2</a> [Wall Street Journal]</li>
<li id="FXU2i0">
<a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-plans-to-split-hq2-evenly-between-two-cities-1541446552">Amazon Plans to Split HQ2 Evenly Between Two Cities</a> [Wall Street Journal]</li>
<li id="4iTZBP">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/1/18/16905126/amazon-new-headquarters-cities-hq2-chicago">Chicago makes final list of cities for Amazon HQ2</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
</ul>
https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/11/5/18065580/amazon-hq2-chicago-crystal-city-new-york-dallasJay Koziarz2018-03-23T14:51:40-05:002018-03-23T14:51:40-05:00Chicago’s Amazon bid video released, William Shatner narrates
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<figcaption>An image from Chicago’s Amazon bid video | <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicagosMayor/status/977259647110348805">City of Chicago</a></figcaption>
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<p>The city trailer played up Jeff Bezos love of Star Trek</p> <p id="J3flEA">Mayor Rahm Emmanuel unexpectedly tweeted out a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=4pptCGR9N4g">Star Trek-esque</a> video that was included in the city’s bid for Amazon’s second headquarters on Friday afternoon.</p>
<p id="a2tSMk">“Really the press release writes itself,” William Shatner narrates over text that reads, “Amazon makes its second city, the second city.” Does this mean <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/19/17138774/amazon-hq2-chicago-site-visit">officials touring the city</a> this week were pleased with what they saw? </p>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Second City makes the ideal <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmazonHQ2?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AmazonHQ2</a>. <a href="https://t.co/fr2B5IZTfz">pic.twitter.com/fr2B5IZTfz</a></p>— Mayor Rahm Emanuel (@ChicagosMayor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChicagosMayor/status/977259647110348805?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2018</a>
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<p id="vCAv98">Amazon representatives were in town to visit at least three sites on the ten sites pitched to the giant online retailer. That included the rapidly changing <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/neighborhood/302/fulton-market">Fulton Market District</a>, Sterling Bay’s <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/22/17151980/lincoln-yards-new-renderings-amazon-site">Lincoln Yards</a> development, and Related Midwest’s sprawling South Loop parcel known as <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16503028/discovery-partners-institute-the-78-development-amazon-hq">The 78</a>.</p>
<p id="qxlJi6">The <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/26/16553580/chicagos-hq2-video-jeff-bezos-star-trek">decision to cast Shatner</a>, known for his role as <em>Sta</em><em>r</em><em> Trek’s</em> Captain Kirk, and the video’s use of star-like points of light in its animations were squarely aimed at Amazon CEO and super Trekkie Jeff Bezos. The businessman is known to be rabid follower of the franchise and even donned alien makeup for a <a href="https://www.recode.net/2016/7/16/12205436/star-trek-amazon-jeff-bezos-role">cameo appearance</a> as an unnamed Starfleet official in Paramount Picture’s 2016 <em>Star Trek Beyond</em>.</p>
<p id="m6Bydn">In addition to its outer-spacey visualizations, the clip draws narrative parallels between Chicago’s humble beginnings and post-Great Fire resilience with Amazon’s own modest origin story starting as tiny online book-selling business in Bezos’ garage.</p>
<p id="t02HM6">Until today’s tweet, Chicago officials have kept a tight lid on the video, claiming its release could compromise the competitiveness of its bid. With Amazon’s fact-finding visit drawing to a close, City Hall has clearly reversed its stance.</p>
<aside id="bcxBUx"><div data-anthem-component="newsletter" data-anthem-component-data='{"slug":"curbed_national"}'></div></aside><ul>
<li id="woG2GR">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/26/16553580/chicagos-hq2-video-jeff-bezos-star-trek">Chicago’s Amazon HQ2 bid appeals to CEO Jeff Bezos’ deep love of ‘Sta</a><a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/19/17138774/amazon-hq2-chicago-site-visit">r Trek’</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
<li id="jK9Y58">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/19/17138774/amazon-hq2-chicago-site-visit">Amazon’s HQ2 selection team to visit Chicago</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
</ul>
https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/23/17157232/chicago-amazon-bid-video-william-shatnerSara FreundJay Koziarz2018-03-21T14:14:12-05:002018-03-21T14:14:12-05:00New River District renderings rolled out for Amazon visit
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Le8hExkyFwemsHb5qO1vsy2JTLo=/0x27:4400x3327/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59112043/06_River_District_form_above___no_park_on_river___with_bridge.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>This sign appeared next to the Ohio Street Bridge. | Photo courtesy of Kevin Doyle</figcaption>
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<p>The images appeared on waterside banners along the North Branch of the Chicago River</p> <p id="Otobrf">The red carpet isn’t the only thing civic and corporate leaders rolled out for Amazon’s <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/19/17138774/amazon-hq2-chicago-site-visit">big Chicago visit</a>, as new banner signs showing updated renderings of the River District megadevelopment suddenly showed up on-site.</p>
<p id="dKQ31P">One of ten Chicago area locations named in the city’s <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/23/16512138/chicago-amazon-hq2-bid">official bid</a> for Amazon’s ‘HQ2’ second North American headquarters, the 37-acre River West development site is currently owned by Tribune Media and home to the sprawling Freedom Center printing plant.</p>
<p id="YR1lpc">Compared the <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/4/16418846/tribune-freedom-center-redevelopment-river-district-amazon">initial renderings</a> released by Tribune Media and architect Solomon Cordwell Buenz last fall, the Amazon-specific site plan shows considerably taller buildings flanked by greater amount of open space. A closer look at the images reveals a new pedestrian bridge near Eerie Street and Amazon’s unmistakable orange logo topping one of the glassy office towers. </p>
<p id="XgrJLY">The River District plan is currently divided into two pieces. The larger, 30-acre southern portion holds the biggest potential for future development but it will need a zoning change to move forward. </p>
<p id="NYlqJx">A plan for the northern portion at 700 W. Chicago Avenue was <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/1/18/16906152/river-district-tribune-development">approved</a> by the Chicago Plan Commission in January. The first phase of four-tower development is expected to break ground later this year regardless of the Seattle-based tech giant’s decision on HQ2.</p>
<p id="6lhQ0Q">Though Amazon’s exact Chicago itinerary is a closely guarded secret, it’s possible from the positioning and orientation of the signs that Amazon’s team was meant to view them from the water. Company reps are also expected to visit other HQ2 candidate sites including <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/30/16562292/amazon-hq2-lincoln-yards-sports-stadium">Lincoln Yards</a>, <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16503028/discovery-partners-institute-the-78-development-amazon-hq">The 78</a>, and Chicago’s <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/neighborhood/302/fulton-market">Fulton Market District</a>. </p>
<p id="9u76GV">Chicago was among the 20 North American cities to make Amazon’s HQ2 “<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/1/18/16905126/amazon-new-headquarters-cities-hq2-chicago">short list”</a> earlier this year. The company is expected to announce its final selection some time this year and begin construction as soon as 2019. According to Amazon, the fiercely competetive HQ2 deal is worth up to 50,000 jobs and $5 billion of investment.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/cqFHkDC68oaxZart_CuLKUAyC5Y=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10469943/05_Current_River_District___Amazon.jpg">
<cite>Photo courtesy of Kevin Doyle</cite>
<figcaption>A second rendering appeared on the western bank of the river across from River North’s Ward Park.</figcaption>
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<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eclA6MFTsbtw_a4CO-SPa9w-TDY=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10469997/04_River_District___Amazon.jpg">
<cite>Photo courtesy of Kevin Doyle</cite>
<figcaption>Amazon’s logo (center).</figcaption>
</figure>
<ul>
<li id="9XgWJp">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/19/17138774/amazon-hq2-chicago-site-visit">Amazon HQ2 team visits Chicago</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
<li id="VgLUI5">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/4/16418846/tribune-freedom-center-redevelopment-river-district-amazon">High-rises planned for Tribune printing plant site</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
<li id="VvAp8F">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/neighborhood/298/river-west">Previous River West coverage</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
</ul>
https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/21/17147794/amazon-hq2-tribune-river-district-renderingsJay Koziarz2018-03-19T11:47:43-05:002018-03-19T11:47:43-05:00Amazon’s HQ2 selection team heads to Chicago
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/NmAqWyppJdkf6Q9Uu_mynkAtk3Q=/320x0:1795x1106/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59082283/lincoln_yards_amazon_1.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>A conceptual rendering of Amazon HQ at Lincoln Yards. | Sterling Bay/SOM</figcaption>
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<p>City officials will be quietly rolling out the red carpet behind a shroud of secrecy.</p> <p id="D8P9gt">Representatives from Amazon are headed to Chicago in the coming days to tour candidate sites for the company’s coveted HQ2 second headquarters. The visit—part of an effort by the e-commerce giant to evaluate the <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/1/18/16905126/amazon-new-headquarters-cities-hq2-chicago">20 North American municipalities</a> on its January shortlist—is set for March 21 and 22.</p>
<p id="vCrwpj">Though details of the visit are obscured in secrecy behind non-disclosure agreements, the <a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/secrets-out-amazon-to-visit-chicago-next-week-amid-cloak-and-dagger-secrecy/"><em>Chicago Sun-Times</em></a> reports that Amazon’s team will inspect “at least three” of the <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/23/16512138/chicago-amazon-hq2-bid">ten locations</a> that comprised the city’s official bid. </p>
<p id="Xy2OKY">These sites include the rapidly changing <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/neighborhood/302/fulton-market">Fulton Market District</a>, Sterling Bay’s <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/30/16562292/amazon-hq2-lincoln-yards-sports-stadium">Lincoln Yards</a> development slated the former North Branch Industrial Corridor, and Related Midwest’s sprawling South Loop parcel known as <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16503028/discovery-partners-institute-the-78-development-amazon-hq">The 78</a>. Tours of other sites are also possible.</p>
<p id="PSqkNg">A team of civic and corporate Chicago leaders are expected to play up the city’s strengths such as its mass transit system, major international airport, access to top university talent, and comparatively low costs of living. The upcoming visit comes on the heels of Amazon’s tour of locations around New York City and metropolitan Washington D.C.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F3p6J_mEh8rl36MP_OdkwSvhIs0=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10454967/78_Crescent_Park_Concept.jpg">
<cite>Rendering by ICON, master planning by SOM, architectural contributions from ASGG and SOM.</cite>
<figcaption>A conceptual rendering showing The 78. The mixed-use campus will be anchored by a new innovation center.</figcaption>
</figure>
<p id="UG5GCv">Meanwhile, an independent Chicago-based HQ2 marketing push known as the <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/2/23/17039918/amazon-hq2-chicago-all-in">People’s Pitch</a> is preparing to release its own crowd-sourced itinerary for Amazon’s team. Separate of Chicago’s official bid, the campaign comes from 18 local public relations and communications companies and allows Chicagoans to cast <a href="http://www.chicagoisallin.com/vote/">votes</a> for their favorite restaurants, parks, cultural institutions, and hidden neighborhood gems.</p>
<p id="hhRzoE">Amazon’s unusual and very public approach towards selecting a second headquarters saw more more than 200 cities answer the <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/9/7/16268734/amazon-hq2-headquarters-jeff-bezos-rahm-emanuel">initial call</a>. According to the company, the HQ2 deal is worthy 50,000 high-tech jobs and billions of dollars in investment. Amazon is expected to announce its final selection this year and begin construction as soon as 2019. </p>
<ul>
<li id="Kh63EG">
<a href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/chicago-politics/secrets-out-amazon-to-visit-chicago-next-week-amid-cloak-and-dagger-secrecy/">Secret’s out: Amazon team to visit Chicago next week amid cloak-and-dagger preps</a> [Chicago Sun-Times]</li>
<li id="dJoe2a">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/11/20/16679150/amazon-representatives-lincoln-yards-finkl-steel">Amazon reps spotted touring Finkl Steel site?</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
<li id="pYJmp3">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/23/16512138/chicago-amazon-hq2-bid">Here are the 10 sites Chicago submitted to Amazon for HQ2</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
</ul>
https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/19/17138774/amazon-hq2-chicago-site-visitJay Koziarz2018-03-12T13:20:18-05:002018-03-12T13:20:18-05:00Construction at The 78: New dome sparks wild Amazon HQ2 rumors
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/W2ZbFxqm7MweYbWhz_8hPLKt5cA=/0x0:1820x1365/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/58999193/1.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Pictured center, the sprawling riverfront parcel sits between Chicago’s South Loop and Chinatown neighborhoods. | Image courtesy of Related Midwest, photo by Mark Segal</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Recent work at the 62-acre South Loop site left the neighborhood guessing</p> <p id="C0JsvT">Construction crews are up to something at the massive South Loop development site known as <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16503028/discovery-partners-institute-the-78-development-amazon-hq">The 78</a>. The recent activity at Related Midwest’s 62-acre parcel fueled rabid speculation. Was it a movie set? Or perhaps related to forthcoming announcement from Amazon regarding its <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/4/16425628/amazon-hq2-headquarters-chicago">HQ2 campus</a>?</p>
<p id="3OCcUr">Last week, neighborhood blog <a href="http://www.sloopin.com/2018/03/something-going-on-at-related-midwests.html">Sloopin</a> first reported that workers poured a concrete pad in the middle of the vacant riverfront site. Days later, the shallow foundation was used to prop-up a new building topped by a geodesic bubble. </p>
<div class="c-float-right"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/SqWDc0Ehzbz6JGSHxuXKPR4hDcU=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10408043/south_loop1.jpg">
<cite><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1459973097462641&set=gm.2516088328616377&type=3&theater&ifg=1">Facebook/Hello South Loop</a></cite>
<figcaption>The mystery dome.</figcaption>
</figure>
</div>
<p id="YZ0PUZ">Given the dome’s basic visual similarity to the recently completed <a href="https://seattle.curbed.com/2018/1/30/16947838/amazon-spheres-seattle-architecture-photos">Amazon Spheres</a> at the company’s Seattle HQ, the activity left many development-watchers and neighbors wondering if the design was purely coincidental. After all, The 78 is one of <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/23/16512138/chicago-amazon-hq2-bid">ten Chicago locations</a> named in the city’s official bid for Amazon’s coveted second North American headquarters.</p>
<p id="IuOlfa">Others on on the Facebook group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/HelloSouthLoop/">Hello South Loop!</a> speculated that the building could be part of a movie set. The suggestion isn’t too far fetched considering that scenes for the 2014 film <em>Divergent</em> were shot at the nearby corner of Wells and Harrison—a previously vacant site now home to the multi-phase <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2016/9/13/12897772/chicago-construction-south-loop-riverline-development-groundbreaking">Riverline development</a>. </p>
<p id="pXDOrQ">The official explanation, however, is less exciting. According to developer Related Midwest, the structure is nothing more than an on-site operations center. “With construction of the Wells-Wentworth Connector starting in just a few months, we are creating an area for our team to conduct operations,” said a Related spokesperson in an email.</p>
<p id="ssG64v">The <a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2014/5/2/10105750/wellswentworth-connector-will-be-a-boost-for-the-south-loop">Wells-Wentworth Connector</a> is a long-discussed CDOT roadway project that would extend Wells Street south—directly through The 78—to Chicago’s Chinatown neighborhood. The downtown thoroughfare currently dead-ends at Roosevelt Road.</p>
<p id="1Ut52B">Interestingly, the site in question was issued a <a href="https://www.chicagocityscape.com/permits.php?pid=100730536#">building permit</a> late last year calling for a “30-foot diameter dome” to be used for a “24 hour press event.” According to its description, that permit was set to expire on December 13. Interesting stuff indeed.</p>
<figure class="e-image">
<img alt=" " data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/AZkKhf40KmGwjzfqTjht2TL0Fog=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/10409499/78_Crescent_Park_Concept.jpg">
<cite>Rendering by ICON, master planning by SOM, architectural contributions from ASGG and SOM.</cite>
<figcaption>A rendering of The 78 mega-development. </figcaption>
</figure>
<ul>
<li id="N2qQZ3">
<a href="http://www.sloopin.com/2018/03/could-dome-structure-on-62-acre-related.html">Could Dome Structure on 62-Acre Related Midwest Lot Signal Something About Amazon’s HQ2?</a> [Sloopin]</li>
<li id="iSvkc9">
<a href="https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/19/16503028/discovery-partners-institute-the-78-development-amazon-hq">Related’s ‘The 78’ mega-development officially unveiled</a> [Curbed Chicago]</li>
</ul>
https://chicago.curbed.com/2018/3/12/17109544/south-loop-construction-the-78Jay Koziarz