"a strong existing tech workforce and universities"
Hate to say it, but Northern Virginia and Raleigh have Toronto beat on this
Hate to say it, but Northern Virginia and Raleigh have Toronto beat on this
But Toronto has perennially top 25 world ranked universities, Waterloo and Toronto.
Toronto may not be the best of these 20 cities for workforce and universities but they can more than hold their own in this regard.
And the area is already known as a strong tech hub, with companies like IBM, Cisco, Microsoft, EMC, and many others having a long-time established presence here.
I can't really compare to Toronto since I don't know much about that area, but I'd say one of the strongest reasons to consider the Triangle relates to the workforce and the education scene.
Big tech workforce that's almost purely finance... but the talent is there.
Proximity to one of the largest airports in the world.
Chicago is a major city with lots of culture, food, attractions, etc.
The proposed sites are absolutely enormous and perfect for a huge mega-complex like Amazon would want to build.
Relatively short flights to both coasts, since you're smack in the center of the country.
Personally I love Chicago, and it's one of my favorite cities to visit in the US. And that's at least in part due to the food scene: Au Cheval, Cantina Laredo, Lao Sze Chuan, Petterino's, Wishbone, Star of Siam, Sushi Pink, etc. But... personally speaking I would not want to live and work in Chicago full-time for one big reason: the weather. It's just way too damn cold there for me in the winters.
Now obviously a lot of people do choose to live there, but I can't help but think a warm weather city would be more favorable in some regards, as far as attracting talent goes. But maybe other people don't weight weather as much as I do, or just enjoy cold. Who's to say...
Oh? How so?
On a related (sad) note, at least two restaurants in Chicago that I used to love are closed now: Bombay Spice, and Dragon Ranch Moonshine & BBQ. That and the Resa's location near River North. :-(
Petterino's... I like them a lot in general, but one thing in particular about them stands out to me: the Midwest Corn Chowder. Funny thing to fixate on I guess, but I fell in love with that the first time I was there.
Food taste is pretty subjective though... and also consider that while I've spent a lot of time in Chicago for work, I never lived there, and there are a lot of local restaurants there that I haven't eaten at. More than the ones I have, I'm sure. Which to me, is just more proof of just how awesome the food scene there is. :-)
I'll always try and visit Chicago when I can, and if I ever got "IPO exit rich" maybe I'd maintain a second home there. I just can't do the winters or maybe I'd consider moving permanently. :-(
Granted, I think the Chinese food here by and large sucks.
Oh yeah, I remember hearing they got raided and had their records seized, but I never heard what the actual outcome was. So Tony Hu went to jail huh? That's too bad. At least last time I was there (2013?) Lao Sze Chuan was amazing.
Workforce? Arguable. You may have a point.
But universities?
The Research Triangle has 2 really good schools: Duke and UNC. State is OK.
The Greater Toronto Area has the University of Toronto, Waterloo, McMaster, all of which outrank State. Waterloo and Toronto are especially strong, and beats Duke and UNC in technical disciplines.