Regional Plan Association Gives Amazon HQ2 a Thumbs Up

A Regional Plan Association white paper makes that case that New York City and Amazon have mutually beneficial goals with the decision to located the tech company's second headquarters in Long Island City.

1 minute read

November 28, 2018, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Queens, New York City

Ivan C / Shutterstock

The Regional Plan Association (RPA) released a report Monday that lends conditional support to the deal that will bring Amazon's second headquarters (HQ2) to the Long Island City neighborhood in New York.

Matthew Flamm characterizes the new RPA white paper as supportive of the idea that HQ2 could make progress in three areas of need in Long Island City: "affordable housing, expanding mass transit and protecting Long Island City from sea-level rise."

"Tom Wright, the RPA's chief executive, compares the Amazon deal to Disney's mid-1990s agreement to purchase the New Amsterdam Theater on 42nd Street and invest in Times Square," according to Flamm. "Eventually, he said, Disney and the city had the same goals."

The article includes more details on the report's findings and recommendations on each of the three targeted policy areas.

Monday, November 26, 2018 in Crain's New York Business

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A rendering of a high speed rain station in California, with wide platforms and a sleep train with yellow highlights.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal

Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.

October 30 - Cal Matters

 A bridge stretches across the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states

Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.

October 30 - South Dakota Searchlight

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30 - Yale Environment 360