Arlington, Virginia is one step closer to becoming a major East Coast urban technology hub now that Amazon’s new headquarters, dubbed HQ2, has been green-lit by city officials. The proposal for the 10.4-acre Pentagon City site known as PenPlace includes a controversial 350-foot swirling glass tower, a 250-seat outdoor amphitheater, three 22-story office towers, a few smaller buildings and public green space. Amazon went through a 14-month feedback process with the local community in the Northern Virginia suburb to refine the design, working to make the new structures more accessible and architecturally diverse.

Amazon’s arrival comes amidst growing inequality, gentrification, and displacement in the larger D.C. region, and the 25,000 jobs it plans to add to the area could contribute to the problems rather than alleviating them. Virginia wooed the company with millions in direct cash subsidies on the condition that its new Arlington hires earn an average of $150,000 a year. Unfortunately, clusters of higher paying jobs for specific skills like technology tend to elevate the local cost of living and push out lower wage earners. Since Amazon’s HQ2 announcement, aviation giant Boeing has also announced a move to Arlington, and more companies are expected to follow.The post Amazon?s HQ2 Will Bring Big Changes ? and a New Landmark ? to Arlington first appeared on Dornob.
...