Amazon HQ2

File:Amazon Headquarters construction from Bhy Kracke Park (18227035656).jpg

Amazon was founded in 1994 in Bellevue, Washington, and leased space in the SoDo neighborhood of Seattle. As the company grew, it moved offices around Downtown Seattle, until announcing a move to a purpose-built headquarters campus in the South Lake Union neighborhood, then a light industrial enclave undergoing urban renewal.{{cite news |last=Brewster |first=David |date=October 1, 2007 |title=Amazon plans a headquarters move to South Lake Union |url=http://crosscut.com/2007/10/amazon-plans-headquarters-move-south-lake-union/ |work=Crosscut.com |access-date=September 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110014415/https://crosscut.com/2007/10/amazon-plans-headquarters-move-south-lake-union |archive-date=January 10, 2019 |url-status=live}} By October 2017, Amazon occupied {{convert|8.1|e6sqft|sqm}} of office space in 33 buildings in Seattle, employing 40,000 white collar workers.{{cite news |last=Belko |first=Mark |date=October 16, 2017 |title=Seattle brewed: Amazon's rapid growth transforms a city—but it's complicated |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2017/10/16/Amazon-HQ2-Pittsburgh-Seattle/stories/201710150037 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=October 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019174612/http://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2017/10/16/Amazon-HQ2-Pittsburgh-Seattle/stories/201710150037 |archive-date=October 19, 2017 |url-status=live}}

Amazon's request for proposal outlined several core requirements, as well as optional preferences.{{cite web |date=September 7, 2017 |title=Amazon HQ2 RFP |url=https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/Anything/test/images/usa/RFP_3._V516043504_.pdf |publisher=Amazon.com |access-date=September 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920212210/https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/G/01/Anything/test/images/usa/RFP_3._V516043504_.pdf |archive-date=September 20, 2017 |url-status=live}}

• Metropolitan areas with a population of over 1 million
• Within {{convert|30|mi}} of a population center
• Within 45 minutes of an international airport
• Proximity to major highways and arterial roads {{convert|1-3|miles|0}}
• Access to mass transit routes
• Up to {{convert|8|e6sqft|m2}} of office space for future expansion

Optional preferences included airports with direct flights to Seattle, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., urban locations, and proximity to major universities.{{cite news |last=Bhattarai |first=Abha |date=September 7, 2017 |title=Amazon is seeking a home for its HQ2, a $5 billion second headquarters somewhere in North America |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/09/07/amazon-is-looking-for-a-city-to-site-a-second-5-billion-headquarters/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=September 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921001130/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/09/07/amazon-is-looking-for-a-city-to-site-a-second-5-billion-headquarters/ |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |url-status=live}}

The deadline for Phase I bids was October 19, 2017.{{cite news |last=Day |first=Matt |date=October 19, 2017 |title=Cities crank up publicity stunts as Amazon's HQ2 bid deadline arrives |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/cities-crank-up-publicity-stunts-as-amazons-hq2-bid-deadline-arrives/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=October 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020024015/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/cities-crank-up-publicity-stunts-as-amazons-hq2-bid-deadline-arrives/ |archive-date=October 20, 2017 |url-status=live}} A final site was planned to be selected and announced in November 2018, from a shortlist of 20 cities released in January.

By October 23, 2017, 238 proposals were submitted and received by Amazon, from cities and regions from 54 states, provinces, districts, and territories, including municipalities in all U.S. states except Arkansas, Hawaii, Iowa, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming.{{cite news |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-refuses-arizonas-cactus-as-bidders-for-hq2-climb-to-118/ |title=Amazon refuses Arizona's cactus as bidders for HQ2 climb to 118 |last=Day |first=Matt |date=September 19, 2017 |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=September 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170919222303/http://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-refuses-arizonas-cactus-as-bidders-for-hq2-climb-to-118/ |archive-date=September 19, 2017 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Bomey |first=Nathan |date=October 19, 2017 |title=See the cities hoping to land 50,000 Amazon jobs, headquarters |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/10/19/amazon-headquarters-bids/779232001/ |work=USA Today |access-date=October 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019202317/https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/10/19/amazon-headquarters-bids/779232001/ |archive-date=October 19, 2017 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Amazon says it received 238 proposals for 2nd headquarters |agency=Associated Press |work=Las Vegas Sun |date=October 23, 2017 |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/oct/23/amazon-says-it-received-238-proposals-for-2nd-head/ |access-date=October 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025022744/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/oct/23/amazon-says-it-received-238-proposals-for-2nd-head/ |archive-date=October 25, 2017 |url-status=live}} The Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Saskatchewan also had no regions submit a bid, along with the Yukon Territory.{{cite news |last=Wingfield |first=Nick |date=October 23, 2017 |title=Amazon Counts Its Suitors: 238 Want to Be Home for 2nd Headquarters |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/technology/amazon-headquarters.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119060742/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/23/technology/amazon-headquarters.html |archive-date=January 19, 2018 |url-status=live}}

In early and mid-October, Little Rock, Arkansas, and San Antonio, Texas withdrew their submissions.{{cite news |last=Demillo |first=Andrew |date=October 19, 2017 |title=Little Rock drops Amazon bid in ad: 'It's not you, it's us.' |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/arkansas/articles/2017-10-19/little-rock-drops-amazon-bid-its-not-you-its-us |agency=Associated Press |publisher=US News |access-date=June 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625052039/https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/arkansas/articles/2017-10-19/little-rock-drops-amazon-bid-its-not-you-its-us |archive-date=June 25, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |work=Rivard Report |type=blog |publisher=Institute for Nonprofit News |title=San Antonio Drops from Race to Become Amazon's Second Headquarters |author=Alex Zielinski |date=October 11, 2017 |url=https://www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2017/10/12/san-antonio-drops-from-race-to-become-amazons-second-headquarters/ |access-date=October 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012191628/https://www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2017/10/12/san-antonio-drops-from-race-to-become-amazons-second-headquarters |archive-date=October 12, 2017 |url-status=live}} Little Rock purchased a full-page ad in The Washington Post "breaking up" with Amazon, where they described their decision to not submit a bid, while also touting the city's positive attributes.{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/rock-drops-amazon-bid-ad-us-50592387 |title=Little Rock drops Amazon bid in ad: 'It's not you, it's us.' | last=Demillo | first=Andrew |work=ABC News |date=October 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020135617/https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/rock-drops-amazon-bid-ad-us-50592387 |archive-date=October 20, 2017 |url-status=live}} A few days after the bid deadline, the campaign flew a banner plane over Seattle with the same message.{{cite news |last=Schlosser |first=Kurt |title=Banner day for Little Rock, Ark., as city flies 'no thanks' message to Amazon over Seattle |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2017/banner-day-little-rock-ark-city-flies-no-thanks-message-amazon-seattle/ |work=GeekWire |date=October 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024011758/https://www.geekwire.com/2017/banner-day-little-rock-ark-city-flies-no-thanks-message-amazon-seattle/ |archive-date=October 24, 2017 |url-status=live}}

Moody's Analytics determined that Austin, Texas, ranked highest among Amazon's criteria, followed by Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Rochester, New York.{{cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2017/10/16/Moodys-ranks-Pittsburgh-fifth-Philadelphia-high-Amazon-HQ2-headquarters-Jeff-Bezos/stories/201710170026|title=Moody's ranks Pittsburgh, Philadelphia high on their potential to deliver Amazon HQ2|last=Belko|first=Mark|date=October 16, 2017|work=Post-Gazette|access-date=October 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018012931/http://www.post-gazette.com/business/development/2017/10/16/Moodys-ranks-Pittsburgh-fifth-Philadelphia-high-Amazon-HQ2-headquarters-Jeff-Bezos/stories/201710170026|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live}} According to Amazon Unbound, Philadelphia was passed over because the city's football team, the Philadelphia Eagles, is a rival to Bezos's favorite team, the New York Giants.{{Cite web |last=Adelman |first=Jacob |date=2021-05-17 |title=Philly came closer to being selected for Amazon’s ‘HQ2’ than previously known, new book reveals |url=https://www.inquirer.com/news/amazon-hq2-philadelphia-brad-stone-unbound-andy-jassy-eagles-giants-20210515.html |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer|language=en}} The New York Times found Denver to be the best site based on Amazon's criteria, followed closely by Boston and Washington, D.C.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/09/09/upshot/where-should-amazon-new-headquarters-be.html |title=Dear Amazon, We Picked Your New Headquarters for You |last1=Badger |first1=Emily |date=September 9, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018013905/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/09/09/upshot/where-should-amazon-new-headquarters-be.html |archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=live|last2=Bui |first2=Quoctrung |issn=0362-4331|last3=Miller |first3=Claire Cain}} Irish gambling site Paddy Power originally listed Atlanta as the odds on favorite to win HQ2, with 2-to-1 odds,{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/10/24/news/companies/amazon-second-headquarters-atlanta-odds/index.html |title=Gambling site has Atlanta as the favorite in the Amazon sweepstakes |last=Smith |first=Aaron |work=CNN |date=October 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024220406/https://money.cnn.com/2017/10/24/news/companies/amazon-second-headquarters-atlanta-odds/index.html|archive-date=October 24, 2017|url-status=live}} but as of January 2018, listed Atlanta and Austin as sharing 3-to-1 odds of winning Amazon HQ2.{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2018/01/02/austin-atlanta-now-share-3-in-1-odds-of-landing.html |title=Austin, Atlanta now share 3-to-1 odds of landing Amazon HQ2|last1=Allison |first1=David |last2=Pope|first2=Colin |work=American City Business Journals | date=January 2, 2018}}

Several cities and groups promoted their HQ2 bids by engaging in promotional campaigns and gimmicks, including offers and gifts to Amazon. Sun Corridor, a Tucson, Arizona economic development firm, sent a 21-foot saguaro cactus to Amazon in an attempt to promote the city's bid. The gift was rejected due to the company's corporate gifts policy, instead donating it to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.{{cite news |last=Wingett Sanchez |first=Yvonne |date=September 19, 2017 |title=Amazon rejects Tucson's gift of a 21-foot saguaro cactus |url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/economy/2017/09/19/amazon-rejects-tucsons-gift-21-foot-saguaro-cactus/682181001/ |work=Arizona Republic |access-date=October 3, 2017}} The city of Stonecrest, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta, voted to de-annex {{convert|345|acre}} of land for Amazon to establish its own city named Amazon around its headquarters.{{cite news |last=Niesse |first=Mark |date=October 3, 2017 |title=City of Amazon proposed to attract company's HQ2 to Georgia |url=http://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/city-amazon-proposed-attract-company-hq2-georgia/WVuopYRd6WFQE3w7JjcdnO/ |work=Atlanta Journal-Constitution |access-date=October 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003170310/http://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/city-amazon-proposed-attract-company-hq2-georgia/WVuopYRd6WFQE3w7JjcdnO/ |archive-date=October 3, 2017 |url-status=live}}

Sly James, mayor of Kansas City, Missouri, purchased 1,000 products from Amazon, which he donated to charity. James wrote five-star reviews for each one of them, in which every review mentioned positive attributes of Kansas City.{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/19/16504042/amazon-hq2-second-headquarters-most-funny-crazy-pitches-proposals-stonecrest-new-york |title=The eight most outrageous things cities did to lure Amazon for HQ2 |author=Liao, Shannon |work=The Verge |date=October 19, 2017 |access-date=October 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171020212744/https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/19/16504042/amazon-hq2-second-headquarters-most-funny-crazy-pitches-proposals-stonecrest-new-york |archive-date=October 20, 2017 |url-status=live}} Primanti Brothers, a chain of sandwich shops based in Pittsburgh, offered free sandwiches to Amazon employees if they chose the city as their second headquarters.

The city of Birmingham, Alabama erected several giant Amazon boxes and dash buttons around public areas. The dash buttons sent out pre-generated tweets to lure Amazon to the city. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio announced that major landmarks in the city would be lit in orange to promote the city's campaign for HQ2.

A group from Calgary sprayed messages onto sidewalks in Seattle's South Lake Union neighborhood urging the company to choose the city. During an Ottawa Senators hockey game, fans were encouraged to "make noise" for the city of Ottawa's Amazon bid.

The neighboring American and Canadian cities of Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario submitted a bid together and campaigned the two cities to be the home of the new Amazon campus. With the headquarters being divided across the Canada–United States border, the company could take advantage of tax incentives offered by both Ontario and Michigan. Amazon would also be able to capitalize on the less restrictive Canadian immigration laws and the lower currency exchange of the Canadian dollar.{{cite news |url=https://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20171020/news/642571/detroit-windsor-pitch-to-amazon-were-one-community| title=Detroit-Windsor pitch to Amazon: We're 'one community' |date=October 20, 2017| work=Crain Communications |language=en|access-date=July 18, 2019}}

Steven Strauss, a visiting professor of public policy at Princeton University{{Cite news |url=http://wws.princeton.edu/faculty/ssstrau |title=Steven Strauss| date=August 4, 2014| work=Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719120602/http://wws.princeton.edu/faculty-research/faculty/ssstrau |archive-date=July 19, 2017| url-status=live|language=en}} and an expert on economic development,{{Cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/opinion/jimmy-kimmel-health-care-graham-cassidy.html| title=Opinion {{!}} Take That, Jimmy Kimmel| last=Leonhardt |first=David| date=September 22, 2017| work=The New York Times |access-date=September 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925042732/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/opinion/jimmy-kimmel-health-care-graham-cassidy.html| archive-date=September 25, 2017 |url-status=live| language=en-US| issn=0362-4331}} in an editorial in USA Today suggested that metropolitan areas should be cautious about bidding too generously to win the Amazon bid. He pointed to examples where companies have gone bankrupt or failed to follow up on expansion plans. Strauss also wrote that it was possible that cities could over-pay (the so-called "winner's curse") by providing an overly generous incentive package, which would turn out to be a money-losing proposition for the municipality if all the promised jobs did not materialize.{{Cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/09/20/amazon-hq-2-taxpayers-politicians-hold-onto-your-wallets-steven-strauss-column/678046001/|title=The wooing of Amazon HQ2: Taxpayers, watch out for your wallets|work=USA Today |access-date=September 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923034226/https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/09/20/amazon-hq-2-taxpayers-politicians-hold-onto-your-wallets-steven-strauss-column/678046001/ |archive-date=September 23, 2017|url-status=live| language=en }}

Conservative and liberal advocacy groups voiced their opposition to various tax breaks promised by cities in hopes of luring Amazon.{{cite news | url=https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/11/6/18065666/amazon-hq2-backlash| title=The backlash to Amazon HQ2, explained| last=Valle| first=Gaby Del| date=November 6, 2018|work=Vox |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113192847/https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/11/6/18065666/amazon-hq2-backlash |archive-date=November 13, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=November 13, 2018 }}{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/15/not-welcome-here-amazon-faces-growing-resistance-to-its-second-home| title='Not welcome here': Amazon faces growing resistance to its second home |last=Wong |first=Julia Carrie |author-link=Julia Carrie Wong |date=March 15, 2018| work=The Guardian| access-date=March 15, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315111627/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/15/not-welcome-here-amazon-faces-growing-resistance-to-its-second-home |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |url-status=live}}

In early 2018, New York University Stern School of Business professor Scott Galloway said Amazon was soliciting bids from places that it never intended to move to solely to gain tax breaks. He predicted that HQ2 would be located in either the New York metropolitan area or the Washington metropolitan area; with the decision to create two locations, Galloway ended up predicting both correctly.{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-hq2-will-be-new-york-or-dc-scott-galloway-predicts-2018-2 |title=The professor who predicted Amazon would buy Whole Foods says only 2 cities have a shot at HQ2| last=Green |first=Dennis |date=February 12, 2018 |work=Business Insider| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104010054/https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-hq2-will-be-new-york-or-dc-scott-galloway-predicts-2018-2|archive-date=November 4, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=November 14, 2018}} He repeatedly called the competition a "ruse" and a "con".{{cite news |url=https://www.recode.net/2018/11/9/18077342/amazon-hq2-headquarters-jeff-bezos-dc-ny-virginia-long-island-kara-swisher-scott-galloway|title=Amazon's HQ2 was a con, not a contest |last=Johnson| first=Eric |date=November 9, 2018 |website=Recode |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112181743/https://www.recode.net/2018/11/9/18077342/amazon-hq2-headquarters-jeff-bezos-dc-ny-virginia-long-island-kara-swisher-scott-galloway|archive-date=November 12, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=November 14, 2018}} Galloway said that "the game was over before it started", claiming that the proximity to both Jeff Bezos' home and the United States Capital made the DC area an obvious choice.{{cite news |url=https://www.recode.net/2018/9/19/17878766/scott-galloway-predictions-amazon-hq2-apple-retail-code-commerce |title=Watch: Scott Galloway's provocative predictions on Amazon, Walmart and the future of retail |last=Molla|first=Rani |date=September 19, 2018| website=Recode |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104010204/https://www.recode.net/2018/9/19/17878766/scott-galloway-predictions-amazon-hq2-apple-retail-code-commerce| archive-date=November 4, 2018|url-status=live| access-date=November 14, 2018| df=mdy-all}}

Former Seattle Mayor Ed Murray announced that he would begin conversations with Amazon about long-term plans for the city, while the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce characterized the announcement as a "wake-up call" to Seattle to improve the city's business climate.{{cite news |url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazons-announcement-of-hq-outside-of-seattle-sends-ripples-through-states-political-circles/ |title=Amazon's announcement of HQ outside of Seattle sends ripples through state's political circles |last1=Beekman| first1=Daniel|work=The Seattle Times | date=September 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921002004/http://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazons-announcement-of-hq-outside-of-seattle-sends-ripples-through-states-political-circles/| archive-date=September 21, 2017| url-status=live| last2=O'Sullivan |first2=Joseph| df=mdy-all}} Comparisons were made to Boeing's decision to move its corporate headquarters from Seattle to Chicago in 2001, which came as a surprise to Seattle.{{cite news|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/amazon-plan-echoes-boeings-move-to-chicago-but-differences-are-crucial/| title=Amazon plan echoes Boeing's move to Chicago, but differences are crucial| last=Gates| first=Dominic| work=The Seattle Times | date=September 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921002106/http://www.seattletimes.com/business/boeing-aerospace/amazon-plan-echoes-boeings-move-to-chicago-but-differences-are-crucial/ |archive-date=September 21, 2017|url-status=live| df=mdy-all}}

Jim Balsillie remarked that he was disappointed in W. Edmund Clark, Kathleen Wynne's czar in charge of the Toronto bid, when in 2017 the latter attempted to sell the buyer on "our competitive advantage... software programmers that cost 34% to 38% less than in the US... that's an edge the government is determined not only to maintain but to sharpen." Balsillie found this strategy to be "misguided... these strategies put our tech workers in a global race to the bottom, competing on cost with the salaries in Poland, Ukraine, and India."{{cite news |last1=Balsillie |first1=Jim |title=Canada is pushing its tech sector into a race to the bottom |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-canada-is-pushing-its-tech-sector-into-a-race-to-the-bottom/ | work=The Globe and Mail |date=September 21, 2019}}

There were concerns that HQ2 would drop a prosperity bomb on the winning communities.{{Cite web| title=Take it from us: With Amazon, you can get too much of a good thing| author = Danny Westneat| work=The Seattle Times| url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/take-it-from-us-with-amazon-you-can-get-too-much-of-a-good-thing/| date=September 8, 2017}}

File:Amazon HQ2.png

On January 18, 2018, Amazon announced its shortlist of 20 finalists for the HQ2 bidding process. The list focuses mainly on the U.S. East Coast and Midwest, with Los Angeles the only selection from the West Coast and Toronto the only one outside of the United States.{{cite news |last=Wingfield |first=Nick |date=January 18, 2018 |title=Amazon Chooses 20 Finalists for Second Headquarters |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/18/technology/amazon-finalists-headquarters.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118143246/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/18/technology/amazon-finalists-headquarters.html |archive-date=January 18, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Day |first=Matt |date=January 18, 2018 |title=Amazon names 20 finalists in search for HQ2 |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-names-20-finalists-in-search-for-second-headquarters/ |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=January 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118160631/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/amazon-names-20-finalists-in-search-for-second-headquarters/ |archive-date=January 18, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Austen |first=Ian |date=January 18, 2018 |title=Why Toronto Made 'the Playoffs' for Amazon's Headquarters |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/18/business/why-toronto-made-the-playoffs-for-amazons-headquarters.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=January 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119023852/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/18/business/why-toronto-made-the-playoffs-for-amazons-headquarters.html |archive-date=January 19, 2018 |url-status=live}}

• Atlanta, Georgia (including Stonecrest)
• Austin, Texas
• Boston, Massachusetts (Suffolk Downs-East Boston and Somerville){{cite web |url=http://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2018/06/19/suffolk-downs-amazon-second-headquarters |title=In The Running For Amazon's HQ2, Suffolk Downs Turns Toward Redevelopment |work=WBUR |access-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203051104/https://www.wbur.org/bostonomix/2018/06/19/suffolk-downs-amazon-second-headquarters |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}
• Chicago, Illinois (City Center Campus, Downtown Gateway District, River District, Lincoln Yards, The 78, Burnham Lakefront, Fulton Market District, Illinois Medical District, Schaumburg, Oak Brook){{cite web |url=https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/23/16512138/chicago-amazon-hq2-bid |title=Chicago officially announces 10-site bid for Amazon's 'HQ2' headquarters |work=Curbed |date=October 23, 2017 |access-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121200600/https://chicago.curbed.com/2017/10/23/16512138/chicago-amazon-hq2-bid |archive-date=January 21, 2019 |url-status=live}}
• Columbus, Ohio (Franklinton, Ohio State University, Easton){{cite web |url=https://www.dispatch.com/news/20171019/documents-detail-columbus-bid-to-lure-amazons-2nd-hq |title=Documents detail Columbus' bid to lure Amazon's 2nd HQ |work=The Columbus Dispatch |access-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106175147/https://www.dispatch.com/news/20171019/documents-detail-columbus-bid-to-lure-amazons-2nd-hq |archive-date=November 6, 2018 |url-status=live}}
• Dallas, Texas
• Denver, Colorado
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Los Angeles, California
• Miami, Florida
• Montgomery County, Maryland
• Nashville, Tennessee
• Newark, New Jersey
• New York City, New York (West Midtown Manhattan, Financial District, Brooklyn Tech Triangle, Long Island City){{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-headquarters-city-proposals-hq2-2017-10/#new-york-city-a-bid-that-includes-possible-sites-in-three-boroughs-6 |title=Amazon has announced the top contenders in its $5 billion bidding war for HQ2 — here are their craziest proposals |work=Business Insider |access-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116050526/https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-headquarters-city-proposals-hq2-2017-10#new-york-city-a-bid-that-includes-possible-sites-in-three-boroughs-6 |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |url-status=live}}
• Northern Virginia (Fairfax and Loudoun counties, including Arlington and Alexandria, in Virginia){{cite web |url=https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/amazon-hq2-northern-virginia-arlington-alexandria-fairfax-loudoun-new-york-chicago-newark-hiring.html |title=Amazon Officials Revisit HQ2 Contenders New York City, Newark, and Chicago. But 1 Big Clue Suggests a Different Choice |access-date=October 31, 2018 |work=Inc.com |date=October 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105221923/https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/amazon-hq2-northern-virginia-arlington-alexandria-fairfax-loudoun-new-york-chicago-newark-hiring.html |archive-date=November 5, 2018 |url-status=live}}
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Schuylkill Yards, uCity Square, Navy Yard){{cite web |url=http://www2.philly.com/philly/business/real_estate/commercial/the-three-sites-philly-is-pitching-to-amazon-20170915.html |title=The three sites Philly is pitching to Amazon |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |access-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106092923/http://www2.philly.com/philly/business/real_estate/commercial/the-three-sites-philly-is-pitching-to-amazon-20170915.html |archive-date=November 6, 2018 |url-status=live}}
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Raleigh, North Carolina
• Toronto, Ontario (including Mississauga, Brampton, York Region, Durham Region, Halton Region, Waterloo Region, Guelph and Hamilton){{cite web |url=https://techvibes.com/2017/10/23/breaking-down-torontos-190-page-amazon-hq2-bid |title=Breaking Down Toronto's 190-Page Amazon HQ2 Bid |work=Techvibes |access-date=October 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105160451/https://techvibes.com/2017/10/23/breaking-down-torontos-190-page-amazon-hq2-bid |archive-date=November 5, 2018 |url-status=live}}
• Washington, D.C. (Anacostia Riverfront, Capitol Hill East, NoMa-Union Station, Shaw-Howard University){{cite web |url=https://wamu.org/story/18/01/17/found-d-c-s-bid-amazon-hq2-didnt/ |title=What We Found Out About D.C.'s Bid For Amazon HQ2 — And What We Didn't |work=WAMU |access-date=October 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101015628/https://wamu.org/story/18/01/17/found-d-c-s-bid-amazon-hq2-didnt/ |archive-date=November 1, 2018 |url-status=live}}

Some of the finalists used their Amazon proposals to attract investments from other multinational corporations.{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/cities-hawk-their-amazon-pitches-to-other-companies-1526290200 |title=Cities Recycle Their Amazon Pitches to Attract New Business |work=The Wall Street Journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101055246/https://www.wsj.com/articles/cities-hawk-their-amazon-pitches-to-other-companies-1526290200 |archive-date=November 1, 2018 |url-status=live| df=mdy-all}}{{cite news |url=https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/17/technology/amazon-hq2-cities/index.html |title=How the losing Amazon HQ2 cities can still win| work=CNN| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181101095447/https://money.cnn.com/2018/05/17/technology/amazon-hq2-cities/index.html |archive-date=November 1, 2018|url-status=live}}

Amazon representatives began tours of its finalist cities in late February. Bidding cities also signed non-disclosure agreements with Amazon for the duration of the bid process.{{cite news |last=Rider |first=David |date=March 5, 2018 |title=As we watch Amazon, its 'HQ2' decision-makers are watching us |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/03/02/as-we-watch-amazon-its-hq2-decision-makers-are-watching-us.html |work=Toronto Star |access-date=March 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305150819/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/03/02/as-we-watch-amazon-its-hq2-decision-makers-are-watching-us.html |archive-date=March 5, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |last=Belko |first=Mark |date=March 5, 2018 |title=Amazon HQ2 visits have begun |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2018/03/05/Amazon-HQ2-visits-have-begun-PGHQ2/stories/201803050179 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |access-date=March 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180306203908/http://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2018/03/05/Amazon-HQ2-visits-have-begun-PGHQ2/stories/201803050179 |archive-date=March 6, 2018 |url-status=live}} although the NDA did not prevent disclosure of financial incentives that cities have offered.{{cite web |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/if-jeff-bezos-makes-washington-the-second-headquarters-of-amazon |title=If Jeff Bezos Makes Washington the Second Headquarters of Amazon |work=New Yorker |date=November 3, 2018 |access-date=November 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104040920/https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/if-jeff-bezos-makes-washington-the-second-headquarters-of-amazon |archive-date=November 4, 2018 |url-status=live}} By May 2018, Amazon representatives had visited the 20 finalist cities.{{cite news |last=Cappetta |first=Michael |date=May 16, 2018 |title=Amazon has finished visiting the top 20 contenders for its new HQ |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/amazon-has-finished-visiting-top-20-contenders-its-new-hq-n874436 |work=NBC News |access-date=May 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516225050/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/amazon-has-finished-visiting-top-20-contenders-its-new-hq-n874436 |archive-date=May 16, 2018 |url-status=live}} In September 2018, Bezos promised a decision by the end of the year.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/13/jeff-bezos-speaks-at-the-economic-club-in-washington-dc.html |title=Jeff Bezos says Amazon will announce HQ2 decision before the end of the year |first=Eugene |last=Kim |publisher=CNBC |date=September 13, 2018 |access-date=October 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002020033/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/09/13/jeff-bezos-speaks-at-the-economic-club-in-washington-dc.html |archive-date=October 2, 2018 |url-status=live}}

On November 4, 2018, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal reported that several finalists were in advanced talks with Amazon over the HQ2 decision, including the potential choosing of Crystal City in Northern Virginia.{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-in-late-stage-talks-with-cities-including-crystal-city-va-dallas-new-york-city-for-hq2-1541359441|title=Amazon in Late-Stage Talks With Cities Including Crystal City, Va., Dallas, New York City for HQ2|last1=Stevens |first1=Laura|date=November 4, 2018|work=Wall Street Journal |access-date=November 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104235609/https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-in-late-stage-talks-with-cities-including-crystal-city-va-dallas-new-york-city-for-hq2-1541359441|archive-date=November 4, 2018|url-status=live|last2=Calvert|first2=Scott|last3=Hobbs|first3=Tawnell D.}} Amazon Director of Economic Development Mike Grella wrote on Twitter that the leaker responsible for informing the newspapers was violating a non-disclosure agreement.{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2018/11/04/amazon-second-headquarters-northern-virginia-reportedly-front-runner/1884661002/ |title=Report: Northern Virginia may be winner of Amazon HQ2 sweepstakes; Amazon exec slams leak |last=Baig| first=Edward C.| date=November 4, 2018|work=USA Today| access-date=November 4, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104201718/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2018/11/04/amazon-second-headquarters-northern-virginia-reportedly-front-runner/1884661002/|archive-date=November 4, 2018|url-status=live}} Grella also criticized media outlets for speculating on the winning bid for HQ2 based on the travel patterns of Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who owns The Washington Post.{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-03/amazon-exec-throws-shade-on-headquarters-stories-in-bezos-paper| title=Amazon Exec Rips 'Leaking' to Bezos' Washington Post on Headquarters |last1=Soper| first1=Spencer |date=November 3, 2018 |work=Bloomberg News |access-date=November 4, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104080123/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-11-03/amazon-exec-throws-shade-on-headquarters-stories-in-bezos-paper| archive-date=November 4, 2018 |url-status=live |last2=Brody |first2=Ben }}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/05/technology/amazon-second-headquarters-split.html| title=Amazon Plans to Split HQ2 in Two Locations|date=November 5, 2018 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106013712/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/05/technology/amazon-second-headquarters-split.html |archive-date=November 6, 2018 | url-status=live| access-date=November 6, 2018 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-hq2-new-headquarters-will-be-in-queens-and-crystal-city-2018-9 |title=Amazon plans to set up 2 different locations for its HQ2 - in New York and Virginia |last=Green|first=Dennis |date=November 5, 2018 |work=Business Insider |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106052218/https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-hq2-new-headquarters-will-be-in-queens-and-crystal-city-2018-9|archive-date=November 6, 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=November 6, 2018 }}{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-plans-to-split-hq2-evenly-between-two-cities-1541446552|title=Amazon Plans to Split HQ2 Evenly Between Two Cities| last1=Stevens |first1=Laura| last2=Raice| first2=Shayndi |date=November 5, 2018| work=The Wall Street Journal | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106000055/https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-plans-to-split-hq2-evenly-between-two-cities-1541446552 |archive-date=November 6, 2018 |url-status=live |access-date=November 6, 2018 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/05/tech/amazon-hq2-update/index.html |title=Everything we know about Amazon's HQ2 search|date=November 5, 2018 |work=CNN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181106203951/https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/05/tech/amazon-hq2-update/index.html |archive-date=November 6, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=November 6, 2018 }}

The selections of New York City and Northern Virginia for the HQ2 sites were confirmed on November 13, 2018.{{cite web |last1=Stevens |first1=Laura |last2=Morris |first2=Keiko |last3=Honan |first3=Katie |title=Amazon Picks New York City, Northern Virginia for Its HQ2 Locations |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=November 13, 2018 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-chooses-new-york-city-and-northern-virginia-for-additional-headquarters-1542075336 |access-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113023023/https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-chooses-new-york-city-and-northern-virginia-for-additional-headquarters-1542075336 |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Amazon's Grand Search For 2nd Headquarters Ends With Split: NYC And D.C. Suburb |publisher=NPR |date=November 13, 2018 |url=https://www.npr.org/2018/11/13/665646050/amazons-grand-search-for-2nd-headquarters-ends-with-split-nyc-and-d-c-suburb |access-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113150150/https://www.npr.org/2018/11/13/665646050/amazons-grand-search-for-2nd-headquarters-ends-with-split-nyc-and-d-c-suburb |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Amazon's HQ2 will be split between NYC and Arlington, Virginia |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/11/13/amazons-hq2-split-between-nyc-arlington-virginia/ |access-date=November 13, 2018 |work=Engadget |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113153457/https://www.engadget.com/2018/11/13/amazons-hq2-split-between-nyc-arlington-virginia/ |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |url-status=live}} In Amazon's announcement, a joint press release was presented by the Northern Virginia bidders that Amazon's HQ2 neighborhood location would officially be renamed "National Landing", which encompasses not only Crystal City but also the nearby areas of Pentagon City and Potomac Yard.{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2018/11/13/where-amazon-hq-2-national-landing-long-island-city/1987015002/ |title=National Landing? Long Island City? This is where Amazon's headquarters are located |work=USA Today |access-date=November 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113213419/https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/nation-now/2018/11/13/where-amazon-hq-2-national-landing-long-island-city/1987015002/ |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |url-status=live}} Amazon also announced that it would employ 5,000 people at a new Operations Center of Excellence in Nashville, Tennessee.

File:Long Island City New York May 2015 panorama 3.jpg, Queens, New York City, canceled second location of Amazon HQ2]]

The subsidies offered to Amazon in New York include performance-based direct incentives of $1.525 billion based on whether the company created 25,000 jobs. This included a refundable tax credit through the state's Excelsior Program of up to $1.2 billion, calculated as a percentage of the salaries Amazon expects to pay employees over the following 10 years. Additionally, the Empire State Development Corporation would give Amazon a cash grant of $325 million based on the occupancy rates of HQ2 buildings over in the following 10 years.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/13/amazon-tax-incentives-in-new-york-city-virginia-and-nashville.html |title=Amazon will get up to $2.2 billion in incentives from New York City, Northern Virginia and Nashville |last=Feiner |first=Lauren |date=November 13, 2018 |publisher=CNBC |access-date=November 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113193650/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/13/amazon-tax-incentives-in-new-york-city-virginia-and-nashville.html |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/13/business/economy/amazon-hq2-va-long-island-city-incentives.html |title=A $2 Billion Question: Did New York and Virginia Overpay for Amazon? |date=November 13, 2018 |website=The New York Times |access-date=November 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114024435/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/13/business/economy/amazon-hq2-va-long-island-city-incentives.html |archive-date=November 14, 2018 |url-status=live}} Under an agreement with New York City's government, half of the property taxes for the city's HQ2 campus would be waived, and the exempt amount would go to the city's PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) fund to pay for infrastructure improvements in New York City.{{cite web |last=Raskin |first=Sam |title=Amazon's HQ2 deal with New York, explained |website=Curbed NY |date=November 16, 2018 |url=https://ny.curbed.com/2018/11/16/18098589/amazon-hq2-nyc-queens-long-island-city-explained |access-date=November 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116214259/https://ny.curbed.com/2018/11/16/18098589/amazon-hq2-nyc-queens-long-island-city-explained |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=A breakdown of the LIC Amazon HQ2 deal |website=am New York |date=November 14, 2018 |url=https://www.amny.com/news/amazon-long-island-city-1.23378324 |access-date=November 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117233458/https://www.amny.com/news/amazon-long-island-city-1.23378324 |archive-date=November 17, 2018 |url-status=live}} Both states proposed that Amazon be given access to a helipad, and the New York state government also promised to upgrade infrastructure in conjunction with HQ2's construction there. Officials estimated that Amazon's move would generate $27 billion in taxes for the city and state.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/14/amazon-says-it-will-not-build-a-headquarters-in-new-york-after-mounting-opposition-reuters-reports.html|title=Amazon says it will not build a headquarters in New York|publisher=CNBC|last=Feiner|first=Lauren|date=February 14, 2019}}{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/02/17/amazon-hq-2-politicians-feud-over-who-blame-after-firm-ditches-ny/2900101002/|title=Politicians squabble over who is to blame for Amazon decision to ditch New York|work=USA Today|last=Davidson|first=Paul|date=February 17, 2019}}

Amazon was said to have chosen New York City as one of the sites for HQ2 because of the city's highly skilled pool of talent; existing tech, finance, and media industries; and strong university system, including Columbia University and Cornell Tech.{{Cite news |url=https://www.ciodive.com/news/strong-university-ecosystems-feed-amazon-hq2-fire/542160/ |title=Strong university ecosystems feed Amazon HQ2 fire |work=CIO Dive |access-date=November 30, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201005126/https://www.ciodive.com/news/strong-university-ecosystems-feed-amazon-hq2-fire/542160/ |archive-date=December 1, 2018 |url-status=live}}

After the HQ2 campus in New York City was announced, officials representing parts of Queens, such as U.S. Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer, State Senator Michael Gianaris, and Assemblyman Ron Kim, announced their disapproval.{{cite news| url=https://queenscountypolitics.com/2018/11/13/some-queens-pols-pushback-against-hq2-coming-to-lic/ |title=Some Queens Pols Pushback Against HQ2 Coming To LIC| last=Spencer |first=Christian|date=November 13, 2018|work=Queens County Politics | access-date=November 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114100451/https://queenscountypolitics.com/2018/11/13/some-queens-pols-pushback-against-hq2-coming-to-lic/|archive-date=November 14, 2018|url-status=live}} Ocasio-Cortez, Van Bramer, and Gianaris all expressed concern that Amazon would receive tax breaks while critical infrastructure, such as the New York City Subway, was deteriorating, and the New York City public school system and New York City Health Department were underfunded. In a Twitter post, Ocasio-Cortez raised further concerns about the affordability of housing in Queens, since housing prices around the HQ2 campus in Queens began rising in anticipation of the campus's construction.{{cite news | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/13/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-and-new-york-democrats-criticize-amazon-hq2.html |title=New York Democrats pick a fight with Amazon over HQ2 in Queens |last=Pramuk| first=Jacob |date=November 13, 2018|publisher=CNBC|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228155020/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/13/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-and-new-york-democrats-criticize-amazon-hq2.html |archive-date=February 28, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=November 14, 2018| df=mdy-all}} Kim and Fordham University professor Zephyr Teachout wrote an opinion piece in The New York Times in which they stated that the city should "not offer incentives and giveaways to an internet giant known for squashing small businesses."{{cite news |url=https://ny.curbed.com/2018/11/13/18090668/amazon-hq2-long-island-city-opposition-nyc |title=Queens officials come out against Amazon's HQ2 in Long Island City |last=Warerkar|first=Tanay|date=November 13, 2018|website=Curbed NY| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113203626/https://ny.curbed.com/2018/11/13/18090668/amazon-hq2-long-island-city-opposition-nyc|archive-date=November 13, 2018|url-status=live |access-date=November 14, 2018}}

Politico reported that the Long Island City location would be built on land intended for 6,000 homes, including 1,500 affordable housing units.{{cite web |url=https://politi.co/2B8OUT2 |title=Amazon deal will disrupt plans for affordable housing on Long Island City sites |last1=Goldenberg| first1=Sally |last2=Rubinstein| first2=Dana |website=Politico |date=November 15, 2018}} New York State Senate member Michael Gianaris said, "The more we learn about this deal, the worse it gets."{{Cite press release | url=https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/michael-gianaris/statement-senator-michael-gianaris-regarding-amazon-hearing | title=Statement from Senator Michael Gianaris Regarding Amazon Hearing | first=Michael | last=Gianaris | authorlink=Michael Gianaris | date=December 12, 2018}} However, polls showed that the majority of New York City residents approved of the deal with Amazon.{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-headquarters-poll/new-yorkers-overwhelmingly-support-amazon-campus-in-queens-poll-idUSKBN1O42H8|title=New Yorkers overwhelmingly support Amazon campus in Queens: poll |publisher=Reuters|date=December 6, 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/amazon-s-hq2-deal-makes-most-new-yorkers-smile-poll-n944511|title=Amazon's HQ2 deal makes most New Yorkers smile, poll finds |last=Gregorian|first=Dareh|publisher=NBC News|date=December 6, 2018}}

On February 14, 2019, Amazon announced that it would cancel the planned Long Island City location due to opposition.{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/it-wasn-t-any-one-incident-amazon-rep-says-decision-n971831 |title='That's pretty firm': Why Amazon is done negotiating with New York |last=Byers |first=Dylan| date=February 14, 2019 |access-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408191704/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/it-wasn-t-any-one-incident-amazon-rep-says-decision-n971831 |archive-date=April 8, 2019| url-status=live| work=NBC News }} The company also said that it would continue developing the Crystal City and Nashville locations.{{cite web| url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/tennessee-very-interested-in-amazon-hq2-after-nyc-strife| title=Tennessee 'very interested' in Amazon HQ2 after NYC strife |last=Henney |first=Megan| date=February 13, 2019| publisher=FOX Business |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214012258/https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/tennessee-very-interested-in-amazon-hq2-after-nyc-strife| archive-date=February 14, 2019 |url-status=live|access-date=February 14, 2019 }} Bill de Blasio and Cuomo were "blindsided" by Amazon's decision when informed by Amazon VP Jay Carney.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/15/nyregion/amazon-hq2-nyc.html| title=Why the Amazon Deal Collapsed: A Tech Giant Stumbles in N.Y.'s Raucous Political Arena |last1=Goodman |first1=J. David |work=The New York Times|access-date=February 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215232547/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/15/nyregion/amazon-hq2-nyc.html |archive-date=February 15, 2019|url-status=live |last2=Weise| first2=Karen | date=February 15, 2019 }} New York governor Andrew Cuomo blamed Democrats in the New York State Senate for the cancellation, and New York City mayor de Blasio said that Amazon "threw away that opportunity," by making the announcement.{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-cancels-hq2-plans-in-new-york-city-11550163050 |title=Amazon Cancels HQ2 Plans in New York City |last1=Stevens|first1=Laura |last2=Vielkind |first2=Jimmy |date=February 14, 2019 |website=The Wall Street Journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215020944/https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-cancels-hq2-plans-in-new-york-city-11550163050|archive-date=February 15, 2019 |url-status=live |access-date=February 15, 2019| last3=Honan| first3=Katie| df=mdy-all}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/nyregion/amazon-hq2-queens.html| title=Amazon Pulls Out of Planned New York City Headquarters |date=February 14, 2019|website=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215000024/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/14/nyregion/amazon-hq2-queens.html |archive-date=February 15, 2019|url-status=live |access-date=February 15, 2019}} In response, Ocasio-Cortez stated: "If we were willing to give away $3 billion for this deal, we could invest $3 billion in our district ourselves if we want to. We could hire more teachers, we can fix our subways, we can put a lot of people to work for that money if we wanted to."{{cite news| url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-york-politicians-odds-over-amazon-s-decision-pull-out-n971741 |title=NY politicians at odds over Amazon's decision to pull out of Queens | first=Elisha | last=Fieldstadt |date=February 14, 2019| work=NBC News |access-date=February 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216184624/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-york-politicians-odds-over-amazon-s-decision-pull-out-n971741 |archive-date=February 16, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-cancels-new-hq-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-celebrates-amazon-move-to-scrap-new-york-headquarters-today-2019-02-14/ |title=Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez celebrates Amazon move to scrap New York headquarters|date=February 14, 2019| access-date=May 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306174251/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/amazon-cancels-new-hq-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-celebrates-amazon-move-to-scrap-new-york-headquarters-today-2019-02-14/ |archive-date=March 6, 2019|url-status=live |work=CBS News }}{{cite news|url=https://news.yahoo.com/ocasio-cortez-takes-a-victory-lap-after-amazon-scraps-plans-new-york-headquarters-201203774.html |title=Ocasio-Cortez takes a victory lap after Amazon scraps plans to build in New York | first=David | last=Knowles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217015925/https://news.yahoo.com/ocasio-cortez-takes-a-victory-lap-after-amazon-scraps-plans-new-york-headquarters-201203774.html |archive-date=February 17, 2019|url-status=live |publisher=Yahoo! News |date=February 14, 2019}} Activist organizations such as Open New York also argued that, in Amazon's absence, the original plans to build 6,000 homes should be re-adopted.{{cite news |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-after-amazon-build-more-housing-20190215-story.html |title=After Amazon, build more housing |last1=Dontoh |first1=Kyle |date=February 17, 2019|work=New York Daily News| access-date=February 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190221224148/https://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/ny-oped-after-amazon-build-more-housing-20190215-story.html |archive-date=February 21, 2019 |url-status=live| last2=Berkovitz |first2=Casey| df=mdy-all}}

In the weeks following Amazon's decision, Governor Cuomo phoned multiple Amazon executives and even Jeff Bezos, personally asking them to reconsider and guaranteeing them "support". The Partnership for New York City placed an open letter in The New York Times stating that Cuomo "will take personal responsibility for the project's state approval." The letter is signed by Hakeem Jeffries, Carolyn Maloney, Andrew D. Hamilton, David M. Solomon, David N. Dinkins, and Ajay Banga, among others.{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/nyregion/amazon-hq2-nyc.html| title=Cuomo Speaks With Bezos, Furiously Trying to Win Back Amazon |last=Goodman |first=J. David|date=February 28, 2019 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228224356/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/nyregion/amazon-hq2-nyc.html |archive-date=February 28, 2019|url-status=live |access-date=February 28, 2019 }}

According to an interview with CNBC, Amazon's vice president of public policy Brian Huseman denied that politics rather than logistics were a factor in Amazon choosing to cancel its New York location.{{cite news | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/10/amazon-reveals-the-truth-on-why-it-nixed-ny-and-chose-virginia-for-hq2.html |title=Amazon reveals the truth on why it nixed New York and chose Virginia for its HQ |work=CNBC |last=Cohn |first=Scott}}

Despite cancelling the Long Island City location, in December 2019, Amazon announced that it had signed a new lease for {{convert|335,000|sqft|sqm}} of space in the Hudson Yards neighborhood to accommodate 1,500 employees. The company already had 3,500 tech employees in the New York City area.{{cite news |last=Morris |first=Keiko |title=Amazon Leases New Manhattan Office Space, Less Than a Year After HQ2 Pullout |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/amazon-leases-new-manhattan-office-space-less-than-a-year-after-hq2-pullout-11575671243 |work=The Wall Street Journal | date=December 6, 2019}}

In February 2019, Cuomo called the cancellation the "greatest tragedy" he had seen during his tenure as governor of New York.{{cite web |title='Greatest Tragedy': Cuomo Talks NYC Losing 2nd Amazon HQ| url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/greatest-tragedy-cuomo-says-about-losing-2nd-amazon-hq/62210/ |publisher=WNBC | date=February 22, 2019}}{{cite news |first=Kaya | last=Yurieff |title=Long Island City tries to move on after Amazon HQ2 debacle |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/14/tech/amazon-hq2-long-island-city/index.html | date=September 14, 2019 |publisher=CNN}}

File:1750 Crystal Drive renovation 2019.jpg

For the location of HQ2, Amazon selected an area in Northern Virginia encompassing parts of the Crystal City and Pentagon City neighborhoods of Arlington County and the Potomac Yard neighborhood in the city of Alexandria which was branded as "National Landing".{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2020/11/16/national-landing-is-two-years-old-and-people-are-kind-of-getting-used-to-it/ | title=National Landing Is Two Years Old, and People Are Kind of Getting Used to It | first=Andrew | last=Beaujon | work=Washingtonian | date=November 16, 2020}} While redevelopment efforts in the area had already begun as early as 2014, the cross-jurisdictional neighborhood was branded and announced as "National Landing" in 2018 as a part of local economic development plans to bring Amazon HQ2 to the area.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2018/11/13/national-landing-is-a-neighborhood-with-no-finite-boundaries-that-sounds-amazing/ | title=National Landing Is a Neighborhood With No Finite Boundaries. That Sounds Amazing | first=Andrew | last=Beaujon | work=Washingtonian | date=November 13, 2018}}{{cite news | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/amazon-introduces-national-landing-headquarters-confused-washington-area-residents-n935796 |title=Amazon introduces 'National Landing' headquarters to confused Washington-area residents| last=Vincent | first=Brandi | date=November 13, 2018}}{{cite news | url=https://wjla.com/news/local/amazon-hq2-national-landing-crystal-city-background | title=Duo delivers Amazon's HQ2 and 'National Landing' moniker to Crystal City | last=Korff | first=Jay |date=November 13, 2018}} The announcement also included plans to build a graduate school satellite university campus of Virginia Tech in the area.{{cite web| url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2018/11/13/virginia-tech-to-open-1b-innovation-campus-2-miles.html |title=Virginia Tech to open $1B innovation campus 2 miles from Amazon HQ2 | work=American City Business Journals | date=November 13, 2018}} The "National Landing" name derives, in part, from the area's proximity to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2018/11/13/did-amazon-just-rename-crystal-city/ | title=Did Amazon Just Rename Crystal City? | first=Andrew | last=Beaujon | work=Washingtonian | date=November 13, 2018}}

The area includes the Washington Metro station at Crystal City and the newly opened Potomac Yard station.{{cite news |date=June 14, 2016 |title=Now open, Metro celebrates first day of service at Potomac Yard-VT Station |newspaper=Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority |agency=WMATA |publication-date=May 19, 2023 |url=https://www.wmata.com/about/news/Potomac-Yard-Grand-Opening.cfm |access-date=May 22, 2023}} The Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter rail system also has a Crystal City station. The Metroway, a bus rapid transit system, runs through the area, with 15 stations covering the area from Arlington's Pentagon City station to Alexandria's Braddock Road station (south of National Landing), with some of this route located in an exclusive bus lane. A pedestrian bridge to connect National Landing to Washington Reagan National Airport and improvements to the existing Metro rail stations are in process.{{cite news | url=https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/what-is-the-new-national-landing-neighborhood-for-amazons-hq2/65-614152523 | title=What is the new National Landing neighborhood for Amazon's HQ2? | last1=Warfield | first1=Marcel |last2=Nuyen | first2=Suzanne | date=November 13, 2018}}{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/09/19/its-a-slow-walk-to-a-pedestrian-link-between.html | title=It's a slow walk to a pedestrian link between Crystal City and Reagan National Airport (notice we didn't say bridge) | first=Alex | last=Koma | work=American City Business Journals | date=September 19, 2019}}

File:Virginia Delegation at Amazon HQ2, Arlington (October 16, 2024).jpg

Virginia offered performance-based incentives which included a workforce cash grant of $550 million for the first 25,000 jobs Amazon created that paid an average salary of $150,000 by 2030. The state offered an additional $200 million for the next 12,850 qualifying jobs created by 2034. Arlington County offered an additional $23 million in cash grants, to be disbursed over 15 years, contingent on Amazon reaching a certain office size and the gradual increased revenue from a tax collected from the county's hotel rooms. The county also offered an estimated $28 million in infrastructure improvements tied to the property taxes of the Pentagon City and Crystal City area.{{cite web | url=https://d39w7f4ix9f5s9.cloudfront.net/a1/f2/85b7a8db41379e151054ff05e815/commonwealth-of-virginia-agreement.pdf |title=Memorandum of Understanding: Major Headquarters Program | date=November 12, 2018}}{{cite web | url=https://arlington.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=1355&meta_id=184432 |title=County Board Agenda Item Meeting of March 16, 2019}}{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2018/11/13/virginias-win-of-amazon-hq2-wasnt-just-based-on.html |title=Virginia's Amazon HQ2 win wasn't just based on traditional incentives. Here's what else was included. | first=Katie | last=Arcieri | work=American City Business Journals | date=November 13, 2018}} The state's initial offer was close to $1 billion, according to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. When Amazon told state officials they would get half of the jobs, the group decided to "essentially cut [the incentives] roughly in half."{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2018/11/14/behind-the-deal-how-virginia-landed-amazon-s-hq2.html |title=Behind the deal: How Virginia landed Amazon's HQ2 project | first1=Katie | last1=Arcieri | first2=Daniel J. | last2=Sernovitz | work=American City Business Journals | date=November 14, 2018}}

Amazon's officials initially said it could occupy up to 8 million square feet of office space in Arlington over the course of 15 years. However, company officials told Arlington in May 2019 that Amazon would not promise anything over 4 million square feet.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/c/amazon-asked-arlington-to-remove-total-square-feet.html | title=Amazon asked Arlington to remove total square feet requirement from incentive deal | first=Jonathan | last=Capriel | work=American City Business Journals | date=May 7, 2019}}

File:Queen City Installation 2192023.jpg

Amazon moved its first employees into rented office space in the area in June 2019, and in June 2020, there were roughly 1,000 employees the company counted as HQ2 workers.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/05/20/amazon-relabels-ballston-job-listings-as.html | title=Amazon relabels Ballston job listings as HQ2-specific | first=Jonathan | last=Capriel | work=American City Business Journals | date=May 20, 2019}}{{Cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2020/06/30/this-week-amazon-hires-1000th-worker-offer-bonuses.html | title=Amazon hires HQ2's 1,000th worker, offers bonuses to those working through the pandemic | first=Jonathan | last=Capriel | work=American City Business Journals | date=June 30, 2020 | url-access=subscription}}

ZGF Architects led the design team, which included James Corner Field Operations and VIKA Civil Engineering and Site Design, as well as many others.{{Cite web |title=Amazon HQ2 - VIKA Engineers |url=https://www.vika.com/projects/amazon-hq2 |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=www.vika.com |language=en}} In January 2020, the company, via developer JBG Smith, started construction on two 22-story towers at 1450 S. Eads St, proximate to Metropolitan Park.{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2020/01/22/its-happening-demolition-begins-on-amazon-hq2-site.html | title=It's happening: Demolition begins on Amazon HQ2 site | first=Jonathan | last=Capriel | work=American City Business Journals | date=January 22, 2020}}{{cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2019/12/14/amazon-earns-approval-for-its-first-new-hq2.html | title=Amazon earns approval for its first new HQ2 construction in Arlington | first=Alex | last=Koma | work=American City Business Journals | date=December 14, 2019}} In September 2020, the company began the $14 million renovation of the park.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2020/09/12/amazons-funded-park-gets-arlington-county-approval.html | title=Amazon-funded HQ2 park approved by Arlington County | first=Jonathan | last=Capriel | work=American City Business Journals | date=September 12, 2020}} By March 2023, 8,000 workers had been hired to occupy the first phase of HQ2, which has a total capacity of 14,000 workers.{{Cite news | url=https://dcist.com/story/23/03/03/amazon-is-pausing-construction-on-pentagon-city-campus/ | title=Amazon Is Pausing Construction On Pentagon City Campus | first=Sarah Y. | last=Kim | work=WAMU | date=March 3, 2023 | access-date=March 4, 2023 | archive-date=March 4, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230304015125/https://dcist.com/story/23/03/03/amazon-is-pausing-construction-on-pentagon-city-campus/ | url-status=live }}

An independent coffee shop and a pet care company signed leases to occupy space in the new development.{{Cite web|last=Clabaugh |first=Jeff |title=Amazon's first HQ2 retail tenants: dogs and coffee |url=https://wtop.com/business-finance/2021/11/amazons-first-hq2-retail-tenants-dogs-and-coffee/ | work=WTOP-FM |date=November 5, 2021}}{{Cite web|last=Denham |first=Hannah |date=November 4, 2021 |title=Meet the first retailers to sign ground-floor leases at Amazon's HQ2 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2021/11/04/amazon-met-park-hq2-retail-leases-ground-floor.html|access-date=December 3, 2021|website=www.bizjournals.com}}

The development also includes a public art installation called "Queen City", which was designed by artist Nekisha Durrett.{{Cite news |last=DeVoe |first=Jo |date=4 October 2022 |title=Public art at Amazon's HQ2 takes shape as construction continues ahead of 2023 opening |work=ARLnow |url=https://www.arlnow.com/2022/10/04/public-art-at-amazons-hq2-takes-shape-as-construction-continues-ahead-of-2023-opening/ |access-date=22 February 2023}} The installation is located in the middle of Metropolitan Park and pays tribute to a former Black community by the same name that was demolished during the construction of The Pentagon.

On February 2, 2021, the company announced a proposed design for the second phase of HQ2, PenPlace, to be developed by JBG Smith. The development includes "The Helix", a 354-foot glass nucleic acid double helix art structure with landscaped terrain that would be opened to the public, similar to "Amazon Spheres" at Doppler in Seattle.{{cite news | last=Capriel | first=Jonathan | title=Amazon's PenPlace plans call for three more HQ2 office buildings, soaring 'Helix' tower | url=https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2021/02/02/amazon-unveils-penplace-plans.html | work=American City Business Journals | date=February 2, 2021}} Founder Jeff Bezos commented that "The natural beauty of a double helix can be seen throughout our world, from the geometry of our own DNA to the elemental form of galaxies, weather patterns, pine cones, and seashells".{{cite news | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/amazon-new-headquarters-the-helix/2021/02/17/36968326-6d75-11eb-ba56-d7e2c8defa31_story.html | title=The Helix is a distraction. Amazon's new headquarters will change more than just its Arlington neighborhood. | first=Philip | last=Kennicott | newspaper=The Washington Post | date=February 18, 2021}} The Verge described it as resembling a "glass poop emoji covered in trees."{{cite news |last=Kastrenakes |first=Jacob | title=Amazon's next headquarters is a glass poop emoji covered in trees | url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/2/22262149/amazon-helix-arlington-virginia-design-hq2-campus |website=The Verge | date=February 2, 2021}}

On November 26, 2021, the FAA completed its evaluation of the proposed building and determined that the structure would not be a hazard to air traffic at nearby Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.{{cite web | last1=Clabaugh |first1=Jeff | title=FAA signs off on HQ2's helix building height |url=https://wtop.com/business-finance/2021/12/faa-signs-off-on-hq2s-helix-building-height/ | work=WTOP-FM |date=December 9, 2021}}

The Arlington County Board approved phase two, including the "Helix" in April 2022.{{Cite web |last=Graf |first=Heather |date=2022-11-04 |title=Local impacts of Amazon's corporate hiring freeze? 7News asks about HQ2 in Arlington |url=https://wjla.com/news/local/amazon-hiring-freeze-corporate-hq2-arlington-jeff-bezos-helix-business-prime-metropolitan-park-site-washington-dc-katie-cristol-brian-huseman-walta-kiflezghi-heather-graf-construction-office-building-headquarters |access-date=2022-11-07 |publisher=WJLA |language=en}}

In March 2023, the company delayed plans to develop the second phase of HQ2.{{Cite news | url=https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/03/amazon-pauses-construction-of-second-headquarters-in-virginia.html | title=Amazon pauses construction of second headquarters in Virginia | first=Annie | last=Palmer | publisher=CNBC | date=March 3, 2023}}

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