Amazon Says Aim to Lease More Office Space in NYC Part of Announced Plans

Amazon downplayed news it’s opening a new office in New York City in 2021 after The Wall Street Journal reported Friday the company signed a lease for 335,000 square feet in Manhattan’s emerging Hudson Yards neighborhood. An Amazon spokesperson emailed Monday the move is part of plans it shared earlier this year to “continue to hire and grow organically across our 18 Tech Hubs, including New York City.” That announcement came after Amazon scuttled plans in February (see 1902140054) for a controversial second headquarters in New York’s Long Island City, Queens, that was opposed by union activists and some local politicians due in part to $3 billion in financial incentives promised to the multibillion company. Amazon originally said its HQ2 location would create 25,000 jobs over a decade; the Hudson Yards leased office will employ 1,500 from Amazon’s consumer and advertising teams, the spokesperson said. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat whose 14th congressional district is adjacent to Long Island City, opposed the headquarters, saying it would put a strain on local resources and the $3 billion the city and state were willing to give Amazon could be better invested elsewhere. On Friday’s announcement, she tweeted: “Won’t you look at that: Amazon is coming to NYC anyway -- *without* requiring the public to finance shady deals, helipad handouts for Jeff Bezos, & corporate giveaways.” Other Amazon locations in the New York City area include a Tech Hub with some 3,500 employees and fulfillment facilities with more than 8,000 staffers.