It appears Boston’s bid to host Amazon’s second headquarters may be losing out to Northern Virginia.
The Washington Post reported Saturday that the e-commerce giant is in “advanced talks” with officials and developers in Crystal City, Va., near Reagan International Airport just outside Washington, D.C., about locating its sought-after second headquarters there. The company has said it intends to employ as many as 50,000 workers at its so-called HQ2.
While it is possible that Amazon is having similar advanced talks with others on its short list of 20 regions, none have become public. Metro D.C. has long been viewed as a favorite, thanks to its well-educated workforce, proximity to the federal government, and the fact that Amazon chairman Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post and a large home there.
An Amazon spokesman declined to comment Saturday.
But after publication of the Post story, Mike Grella, director of economic development for Amazon, posted on Twitter: “Memo to the genius leaking info about Crystal City, VA as #HQ2 selection. You’re not doing Crystal City, VA any favors. And stop treating the NDA you signed like a used napkin,” he said, referring to the nondisclosure agreements that Amazon required its finalists to sign.
With its universities, strong tech economy, and an already sizable Amazon presence, Boston has been seen as a strong contender to land HQ2 from the day Amazon announced the search in September 2017.
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SOURCE: Boston Globe, Tim Logan
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