KCRag Forum

Just stumbled across this. I figured this would be the best place to post since we are all so passionate about getting another high-rise downtown. Well, here's our chance. Amazon is searching for the availability to add up to 8,000,000 sq/ft over 3 phases in construction. We have our connections so lets get city hall to submit an amazing response to this RFP showing how KC would be perfect for a few high-rises and up to 50,000 newly employed people.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/browse.html/?node=17044620011

I tweeted this to KCMO and Sly James. Take note they say "North America" and not the United States.

Pipe dream for sure...competition will be fierce with city's dropping everything to lure this HQ. I am not sure we have the talent pool...

It will end up being a larger suburb with more money than sense. Big cities have started to learn not to throw excessive incentives for businesses, it end up not working out. Like a lot of KC gains have been tied to incentives requiring new job creation while Overland Park pays for relocation directly.

This is football, but it shows this idea in play
http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/californi ... 32257.html

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Maybe B and M and JE Dunn can refocus their efforts on this after having lost the airport bid

The entire north loop of I-70 should be given to them and once built the city can call 6th street to 8th street "Amazonia."

Or what about that huge parcel in the east Crossroads just south of Hospital Hill?
Instant game-changer for KC, it would shock the world.
But KC could easily attract and absorb the 20-30K for the first phase of construction over the first 2 years.
One in a million odds.

The city should pitch locations along streetcar line, heavily emphasizing streetcar is free. The lots near 8th/Wyandotte are large enough for several hirises. And then can extend to North Loop if it makes sense.

If we came up with a competent bid, even if Amazon didn't choose us it would show we are serious. Might convince another city to choose us

Sorry not city company

Wasn't Amazon one of the "big bang" possibilities quoted in the MARC study on the decommissioning the north loop?

The available land in the NoLo and East Village is already astronomically cheaper than anything they'll find in central business districts in the major North American cities. The problem is do we have the infrastructure in place they would want for their employees? Our public transit needs much more improvement and we've let the #nopus and DeJanes losers run the narrative here for too long. If KC wants to attract a massive game changer like this we need to play hardball and bury the rube antics of those NIMBYs.

I hope that it at least goes to a city close to KC in size, but with better transit and infrastructure. That might wake some people up, show them that we need things like transit to attract these big companies like Amazon.

KCMOJoe89 wrote:Wasn't Amazon one of the "big bang" possibilities quoted in the MARC study on the decommissioning the north loop?

yes

PC Mag lists KC as #1 for locations to move its 2nd HQ
https://www.pcmag.com/news/356056/6-cit ... headquarte

So every reporter and their brother have put together a list this afternoon of potential cities for Amazon to consider in their relocation effort. KC is not on most of them. It is however on this one

The only downside listed?

The city has terrific internet connectivity, it has been nurturing tech startups in the Crossroads neighborhood, land is affordable, the airport has nonstop flights to all the right places, and the local government has a very pro-tech stance. Kansas City's primary downside is its lack of international flights. "Kansas City International Airport" holds its title because of flights to Toronto and Cancun, which isn't the globe-spanning range Amazon wants.

loftguy wrote:

KCMOJoe89 wrote:Wasn't Amazon one of the "big bang" possibilities quoted in the MARC study on the decommissioning the north loop?

yes

So how long would it take to shut down the north loop and open it for development? I wouldn't think in time for Amazon to start construction next year given all of the political/development hurdles? Or maybe the state and city see the benefit and fast track the process.

East Village is probable the most "site ready" location. Or they could get cool and develop the West Bottoms, blending new construction with the existing stock of buildings

kboish wrote:So every reporter and their brother have put together a list this afternoon of potential cities for Amazon to consider in their relocation effort. KC is not on most of them. It is however on this one

The only downside listed?

The city has terrific internet connectivity, it has been nurturing tech startups in the Crossroads neighborhood, land is affordable, the airport has nonstop flights to all the right places, and the local government has a very pro-tech stance. Kansas City's primary downside is its lack of international flights. "Kansas City International Airport" holds its title because of flights to Toronto and Cancun, which isn't the globe-spanning range Amazon wants.

What have other people been saying? I honestly think Detroit is a perfect location. Dan Gilbert owns a lot of downtown detroit so Amazon might only have to deal with one land owner

brewcrew1000 wrote:PC Mag lists KC as #1 for locations to move its 2nd HQ
https://www.pcmag.com/news/356056/6-cit ... headquarte

Didn't expect that. Hurricane Jose has a better chance to hit Florida (following Irma) than KC getting this. But if international flights aren't heavily weighted, maybe KC gets on the short list.

Amazon is going to locate somewhere with lots of logistics experience. They use technology for AWS and such but still will need people that understand how to move packages around. They're opening an airline, so they need to build the technical ability to support this business.

So any cities that has a strong overlap between IT and logistics would seem to be a strong contender.