FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 13, 2018
CONTACT: Lisa Rother
[email protected]
202-506-0482

ULI Washington is pleased and excited that the Washington region has been selected for the new Amazon headquarters. The Washington region is a place where people expect big things from life and aspire to do work that matters. When Amazon comes to town, they will have access to bio-health scientists, culinary innovators, computing revolutionaries, policy shapers and world class artists.

Arlington County, Alexandria, and JBG Smith, a leading ULI Washington member, have all been setting trends for the future of real estate. They are transforming close-in suburbs into thriving urban-like destinations that combine housing, commercial, and retail uses with open space and finding innovative ways to reuse existing space to meet the needs and expectations of businesses and workers. ULI Washington congratulates Arlington County, Alexandria and JBG Smith on their selection by Amazon and looks forward to working with them to provide an exceptional experience for the community and our new Amazon colleagues.

Over the last decade, the Washington region, a complex area of three states, the District, the Federal government, the Congress, and a huge private sector business community has been transforming into a cohesive regional powerhouse that emphasizes its ability to work together to get things done. In addition to the excitement of having Amazon come to town, the decision will have economic and housing impacts throughout the Washington region.

A commitment to ensure that an appropriately trained labor force will be available to Amazon and other companies in the region, and that there will be housing affordable to that labor force is of utmost importance. No one developer or jurisdiction will be able to satisfy these needs, and we are looking forward to a continuation of regional cooperation to meet the requirements of growth in the region. ULI Washington is currently studying the real estate entitlement and community participation process to understand the barriers to providing sufficient housing in the right place at the right price. We are eager to share our work with Amazon and local communities, and to participate in strengthening this region’s cohesiveness to ensure that all who live and work in our region will benefit from the location here of one of the world’s most influential and powerful companies.