The Dallas Regional Chamber is beginning to pour over proposals from more than a dozen North Texas cities, each hoping to land Amazon’s $5 billion HQ2 campus.
“We have communities from all over the region submitting,” said Jessica Heer, the Regional Chamber’s senior vice president.
The Dallas Regional Chamber set Sept. 29 as the last day for cities to submit proposals, which will be included in the Chamber’s unified, regional pitch to Amazon.
“We want to show that we have the variety and opportunity throughout the region, want to give them a lot of options,” said Heer.
“I think we’ve got a pretty good chance just with all of our growth in this region from talent to the variety of sites that we have,” Heer said. “They’d be crazy not to look at us, right?”
One proposal from Dallas would put Amazon’s HQ2 at the site of the old Valley View Mall, at the northwest corner of 635 and Preston Road.
“I think we really do have a good shot,” said Dallas Midtown developer Scott Beck.
“Amazon could fit their entire five million square feet of space within just this site where the hundred acres of Valley View Mall sits today,” said Beck.
“At the Dallas Regional Chamber, we don’t care where they land as long as they land, as long as it’s in the region,” said Heer.
Dallas City Councilman Lee Kleinman believes North Texas has a good chance.
“We’re one of the fastest growing regions in North America,” said Kleinman. “People like being here, the weather's good, transportation is great. I mean we have two fantastic airports, there’s a lot of encouraging and positive business environment here and there’s a great technology environment here.”
The deadline to get the Dallas Regional Chamber’s response to Amazon is Oct. 19.
