Techs and the Cities: A New Economic Development Paradigm?
Large technology firms pose new challenges for local economic development in the 21st century. They are attractive targets for local economic developers because they have the potential of providing permanent, well-paying jobs. This article examines two mega-economic development deals. Amazon’s propo...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cogitatio
2020-09-01
|
| Series: | Urban Planning |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/urbanplanning/article/view/2986 |
| _version_ | 1818558029185941504 |
|---|---|
| author | Gary Sands Pierre Filion Laura A. Reese |
| author_facet | Gary Sands Pierre Filion Laura A. Reese |
| author_sort | Gary Sands |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Large technology firms pose new challenges for local economic development in the 21st century. They are attractive targets for local economic developers because they have the potential of providing permanent, well-paying jobs. This article examines two mega-economic development deals. Amazon’s proposed second headquarters in Queens and Sidewalk Labs’ Quayside proposal for the Toronto waterfront pit large and prosperous Big Tech firms against local governments with healthy economies. Amazon abandoned the New York City site it had chosen, rather than open new negotiations with local officials and citizens. Sidewalk Labs withdrew from the Quayside proposal after two and a half years of negotiation focusing mostly on the size of the proposed development. Although the potential benefits may be substantial, incentivizing Big Tech’s location decisions may be well beyond the means of most cities, especially those with distressed economies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:07:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-814650c845e5470194dfadac6ce43c1f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2183-7635 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T00:07:26Z |
| publishDate | 2020-09-01 |
| publisher | Cogitatio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Urban Planning |
| spelling | doaj.art-814650c845e5470194dfadac6ce43c1f2022-12-21T23:25:57ZengCogitatioUrban Planning2183-76352020-09-015339240210.17645/up.v5i3.29861656Techs and the Cities: A New Economic Development Paradigm?Gary Sands0Pierre Filion1Laura A. Reese2Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Wayne State University, USAFaculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, CanadaUrban and Regional Planning, Michigan State University, USALarge technology firms pose new challenges for local economic development in the 21st century. They are attractive targets for local economic developers because they have the potential of providing permanent, well-paying jobs. This article examines two mega-economic development deals. Amazon’s proposed second headquarters in Queens and Sidewalk Labs’ Quayside proposal for the Toronto waterfront pit large and prosperous Big Tech firms against local governments with healthy economies. Amazon abandoned the New York City site it had chosen, rather than open new negotiations with local officials and citizens. Sidewalk Labs withdrew from the Quayside proposal after two and a half years of negotiation focusing mostly on the size of the proposed development. Although the potential benefits may be substantial, incentivizing Big Tech’s location decisions may be well beyond the means of most cities, especially those with distressed economies.https://www.cogitatiopress.com/urbanplanning/article/view/2986amazonbig techlocal economic developmentnew york citysidewalk labstoronto |
| spellingShingle | Gary Sands Pierre Filion Laura A. Reese Techs and the Cities: A New Economic Development Paradigm? Urban Planning amazon big tech local economic development new york city sidewalk labs toronto |
| title | Techs and the Cities: A New Economic Development Paradigm? |
| title_full | Techs and the Cities: A New Economic Development Paradigm? |
| title_fullStr | Techs and the Cities: A New Economic Development Paradigm? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Techs and the Cities: A New Economic Development Paradigm? |
| title_short | Techs and the Cities: A New Economic Development Paradigm? |
| title_sort | techs and the cities a new economic development paradigm |
| topic | amazon big tech local economic development new york city sidewalk labs toronto |
| url | https://www.cogitatiopress.com/urbanplanning/article/view/2986 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT garysands techsandthecitiesaneweconomicdevelopmentparadigm AT pierrefilion techsandthecitiesaneweconomicdevelopmentparadigm AT lauraareese techsandthecitiesaneweconomicdevelopmentparadigm |