Amazon has abandoned plans of expansion for the second time this month, as it pulls the plug on a project to occupy a 722,000 square ft office in downtown Seattle.
In what would've been one of the biggest lease deals in city's history, the 58-story Rainier Square tower will now be looking for a new tenant following Amazon's announcement on Wednesday.
The plans would have provided space for as many as 5,000 employees within the high-rise - which is still under construction - located a stones-throw away from Amazon's original headquarters.
The U-turn followed a Seattle City Council decision to reverse on the imposition of a new business tax - dubbed the 'Amazon tax' - on the Bezos-owned company, the Seattle Times reported.
Amazon has abandoned plans of expansion to occupy the 722,000 square Rainier Square tower in downtown Seattle (pictured: an architect's interpretation of the finished building)
Amazon had previously threatened to withdraw from the deal, when Seattle Council touted new taxes 10 months ago (pictured: Amazon owner, Jeff Bezos)
Charging Amazon $275 per employee, per year, the head tax would have raised millions annually to help address the city's affordable housing crisis and fund homeless initiatives in the area.
Amazon had initially threatened to withdraw from the scheme 10 months ago as a result of the impending tax, but, despite the council's decision to repeal it, Amazon decided to sublease the building, rather than frequent it.
'This is a good reminder for us that backing down to the bullying of corporations never stops their bullying,' said Seattle Councillor Kshama Sawant.
'As the next step, people in Seattle should gather courage and renew our fight to tax big business for social housing,' she added.
November photos from Long Island City shows the area Amazon had planned to take over for their New York headquarters
Just two weeks ago, the e-commerce company abandoned its plans to construct a major Campus in New York, following a litany of opposition from local lawmakers.
Named 'HQ2', the sprawling 8 million square feet campus was projected to bring 25,000 jobs to the area, with the city dangling a $3 billion tax break as collateral.
The plan was announced last November and would have created over $10 billion in revenue over the next 20 years.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said the city lost a golden opportunity to be 'an emerging center for tech' and previously said the Amazon move was 'an extraordinary economic win not just for Queens and New York City, but for the entire region, from Long Island to Albany's nanotech center.'
Meanwhile the likes of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez celebrated the withdrawal, calling it a victory for 'everyday people.'
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, celebrated the e-commerce company's NYC withdrawal, calling it a victory for 'every day people'
Amazon's decision to withdraw from NYC came as a result of stern opposition from lawmakers and the local community
Similarly in Seattle, the company has long been at loggerheads with City Hall, where issues of traffic, affordability and homelessness are regularly attributed to Amazon's overwhelming presence in the area.
'Whether or not this building is occupied by Amazon workers, we have a housing crisis. We have transportation issues,' said Council representative Teresa Mosqueda, who opposed the head-tax repeal.
'This is a city that not only welcomed them in but helped them succeed. For that success to now be sustainable, we have to get on the same page about investments in housing, transit and infrastructure,' she added.
Unlike New York, though, Amazon insists its future does still lay in Seattle.
In a statement they revealed that more than 9,000 open jobs and 2 million square feet of new space is currently under construction in the city.
'We are always evaluating our space requirements and intend to sublease Rainier Square based on our current plans', Amazon's statement read.
They added they will 'continue to evaluate future growth' in the area.
Rainier Square tower will open next year. It will become the second largest building in Seattle. Amazon had previously said they'd occupy the whole building
Unlike New York, Amazon says its future still lies in Seattle - and the Bezos-owned company has recently been making real estate moves in Bellevue, just across Lake Washington
Amazon has already started spreading its roots across the other side of Lake Washington too, having recently signed a 16-year lease to occupy a 20-story office tower in the neighboring city of Bellevue - the same city Bezos originally started the company in.
The 10-story Bellevue Corporate Plaza is also believed to be in the company's sights.
The now vacant Rainier Square tower will open next year. It will become the second largest building in Seattle.
Greg Johnson, president of Wright Runstad - the property management company overseeing the Rainier Square tower - couldn’t say why Amazon pulled out of the building and if it’s tied into any larger threads about the company’s future here.
'It’s a relatively small part of what they occupy in the region, so I wouldn’t necessarily try to read that much into it,' Johnson said to the Seattle Times, adding that subleasing is common in Seattle.
'We wish [Amazon] well and hope it’s super successful [in subleasing the space].
'I think the good news for Amazon is we’re in a very robust market and there’s other people and companies out looking for space, and there isn’t much available. I think they’re going to fill it up pretty quickly,' Johnson added.
Link hienalouca.com
https://hienalouca.com/2019/03/01/amazon-abandons-plans-to-occupy-office-space-in-new-seattle-high-rise/
Main photo article Amazon has abandoned plans of expansion for the second time this month, as it pulls the plug on a project to occupy a 722,000 square ft office in downtown Seattle.
In what would’ve been one of the biggest lease deals in city’s history, the 58-story Rainier Square tower will now be...
It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.
Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.
Dianne Reeves US News HienaLouca
https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/02/28/21/10428682-6757721-image-a-77_1551390733081.jpg
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