Amazon abruptly announced last week that it will not move forward with its planned campus in Long Island City due to mounting public opposition and political pressure. Many cities that had previously vied for the nearly 25,000 jobs the company said it would create in New York are eager to submit new bids; however, the company said it will not reopen its search for an alternative location. Amazon will, however, be proceeding as planned for its headquarters in Northern Virginia. The Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey released a statement confirming that “nothing has changed” in regard to Amazon’s plans for the region.
Local politicians in Virginia have been supportive of the tech behemoth, promising up to $750 million in incentives if Amazon creates 38,000 jobs in Arlington County. A fund will be established to distribute $550 million to the company in the first phase of its HQ2 development. Traffic, parking, and rising rents remain the top concerns of local residents who will be affected by Amazon’s entrance to the region.