Muigai, Caroline - LGL From: Icken, Andy - MYR Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2017 3:13 PM To: Robert Eury Cc: John S. Reale Jr. Subject: Fwd: Amazon - Executive Summary Attachments: image00l.png; A TT0000l.htm; Amazon_New Executive Summary-v2.pdf; A TT00002.htm Here is summary proposal sheet. I support it. Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: Clint Pasche Date: October 12, 2017 at 2:42:11 PM CDT To: "lcken, Andy -MYR" <[email protected]> Cc: Bob Harvey Subject: RE: Amazon -Executive Summary Andy, please find updated copy reflecting the other transit-oriented sites as discussed. Thank you, Clint From: Clint Pasche Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2017 2:01 PM To: Andy lcken <[email protected]> Cc: Bob Harvey Subject: Amazon - Executive Summary Andy, In effort to keep this moving forward, here is a draft of the two page executive summary. This should hit the highlights of the proposal and make a compelling case, in a short read, of why Houston is the right choice. I will note that JR had a moment to take a quick look and offered advice which is not reflected here as we wanted to get this over ASAP. Let us know your thoughts and we can reconcile the changes. Clint 1 AMAZON HQ2 HOUSTON PROPOSAL EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION The entire Houston community is pleased to submit our proposal to be the home for Amazon's second headquarters. As we studied your request-for-proposal and dug deep into your culture, we discovered there are remarkable similarities between us. Houston is a can-do city that focuses on getting results, not credit. We think big and then we do it. As you review this proposal, we think you will come to this conclusion: Houston and Amazon are kindred spirits, and together, we can change the world. HOUSTON'S APPROACH TO AMAZON HQ2 PROPOSAL PROCESS In Houston, we work together. When this opportunity came about, leaders from across our region came together in a thoughtful, collaborative fashion to present a creative community response. This group included business and civic leaders, academics, startups, and cultural institutions, each bringing diverse perspectives to our solution. Simply put, our proposal reflects this synergistic effort and like Houston, is built on partnership and collaboration. We invite Amnzon to partner with us and our core sectors to drive future growth and innovation. WHY HOUSTON Houston is diverse The New York Times calls Houston "America's Most Diverse City." Houston has no ethnic majority and one-in-four Houstonians was born outside of the United States. This diversity adds a richness to the fabric of Houston you will not find in many other cities. As Amazon seeks to diversify its ranks at the executive, manager and professional levels, there is no better place to locate than Houston. Houston offers a unique convergence of industries ripe for disruption Houston is home to key global industries teeming with challenge and opportunity: energy, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics and space. These are sectors ripe for disruption, representing some of the richest opportunity sets for Amazon and its innovators. Our proposal offers several special opportunities and partnerships to drive game-changing solutions. Houston is home to top STEM and computer software talent Houston is home to 240,000 STEM specialists and consistently ranks first or second as the top city for the number of STEM workers and the highest concentration of engineers. It also enjoys a large population of 97,550 workers in technology-related occupations. As a company in the business of industry disruption, Amazon can partner with the technical engineers and talent in our "legacy" industries to drive innovation forward. Houston and Texas offer a great business climate Through pro-growth policy, smart regulation and a favorable tax regime, Texas has emerged as the premier state for expansion and relocation. We are a right-to-work state and have no corporate or personal income tax. The City of Houston has set priorities of its own to support growth and innovation. The City has no local minimum wage, permitting is fast and friendly, and the cost of doing business in Houston is well-below the U.S. major metro average. Altogether, Houston offers Amazon one of the easiest and best places to do business in the country. Houston offers a11 i11credible quality of life that attracts tale11t Our eclectic, culture-filled neighborhoods, restaurants and attractions offer diverse flavors that can only be found here. Houston is ranked as a top city for attracting millennials largely because we offer a high quality of life paired with a low cost of living. Amazonians can afford to enjoy everything Houston has to offer because their rent is lower, groceries are cheaper, and they can access more affordable healthcare than in most other major cities. Houston is a gateway to the Americas Houston is positioned equidistant to the east and west coasts and offers easy access to every major city in the U.S. We also offer the most flights of any U.S. city to Mexico and direct access throughout Latin America. Our two international airports are within 25 minutes of the proposed sites with daily non-stop flights to more than 190 destinations including 69 international cities. Additionally, Port Houston is America's number one export seaport. Amazon will find that Houston is the perfect conduit to move both goods and people. SITE SOLUTION Houston proposes to partner with Amazon to establish its HQ2 in the "Innovation Corridor" of central Houston, leveraging one or more privately-owned, development-ready sites. A campus in the Corridor offers direct METRORail access to the city's leading academic, corporate, life science, and startup resources in a culturally-rich, diverse, and millennial-friendly setting, Innovation Corridor North Site - 800 Bell Located in Downtown Houston, the former Humble Oil Building offers Amazon the opportunity to repurpose a landmark 1.3 million SF office tower as the launch pad for future growth and innovation, Several adjacent land tracts are available for development that easily meet the 8 million SF build out required for Amazon HQ2. This location offers proximity to a world-class multi-modal transit system and quality of life amenities, including luxury hotels, acres of outdoor spaces, an award-winning Theater District, and three professional sports teams, Innovation Corridor South Site - Wheeler Station Located in the historic urban Midtown neighborhood, the Wheeler Station site offers Amazon the opportunity to revitalize a historic 200,000 SF Art Deco Sears building on a core 8-acre site adjacent to another 10+ acres that in total, meet the requirement for Amazon's HQ2, This location allows a sustainable, modern campus to be woven into an authentic, diverse, and walkable urban neighborhood. This vibrant area offers countless award-winning restaurants, world class museums and green spaces with ample millennial-focused housing, Adjacent to Innovation Corridor - East River East River is located in Houston's East End, the cultural and arts district located just minutes away from Downtown Houston and the Innovation Corridor. This site is offered as an alternative opportunity and features a 150-acre parcel including two existing buildings with more than 550,000 SF available for phase 1 of redevelopment. In addition, adjacent buildings are available for further buildout to meet the 8 million SF requirement for Amazon's HQ2, East River connects to more than a mile of waterfront, and is part of a vibrant and eclectic neighborhood with a focus on diverse cultures and lifestyles, entrepreneurialism, and art. Other Transit-Oriented Sites for Potential Development In addition to the three sites on or adjacent to the Innovation Corridor, Houston has a number of other options that are close to existing or proposed mass transit options. One option would integrate with Texas Central Railway's high-speed bullet train station to be located a few minutes northwest of Downtown. The Fannin South site is connected to the METRORail Red Line south of the Texas Medical Center. The third site, owned by the University of·Texas, has access to the proposed 90A commuter line that will connect commuters from the region's populous southwest side. INCENTIVES The City of Houston, Harris County, and the State of Texas are prepared to offer a competitive package of incentives for Amazon to locate in the Innovation Corridor. This is offered in the form of cash and tax incentives that total approximately $268 million. We will work closely with Amazon to expedite permitting and provide transit and other accommodations. SPECIAL PARTNERSHIPS Houston's leading institutions stand ready to work with Amazon to build new, disruptive business models in Houston's areas of traditional strength: energy in all of its forms and uses, life sciences and healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, and space, In addition to the main HQ2 campus, our community is prepared to offer a series of special partnerships, including physical space in proximity to industry-focused collaboration centers, to drive future growth and innovation. These real estate inducements total approximately $38 million in value. CONCLUSION Houston is proposing a partnership with Amazon. A partnership that challenges our city and your company to think big and think differently. Houston's unique convergence of industries presents a series of problem-sets that we can solve·together. As a company looking 10, 20, 30 years down the road with a mission to change the world, Amazon will not find a more able and willing partner than Houston. Since Day One, we have been a city of disruption, We invite Amazon and your tenacious drive to join us, Muigai, Caroline - LGL From: Icken, Andy - MYR Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2017 6:10 PM To: Bob Harvey Cc: John S. Reale Jr.; Robert Eury; Marro, D'Ann - MYR Subject: Fwd: Amazon Letter Attachments: image00l.jpg; A TT0000l.htm; 20171012175212524.pdf; A TT00002.htm And frankly this letter and the changes the mayor made was worth waiting for!!! Sent from my iPhone Begin forwarded message: From: "Washington, Amanda - MYR" <[email protected]> Date: October 12, 2017 at 6:03:11 PM CDT Cc: "lcken, Andy -MYR" <[email protected]> Subject: Amazon Letter Please see attached Amazon Letter. 1 CITY OF HouSTQN _______ Sy_lv_e_st_er_T_ur_n_er_ _ Mayor Office of the Mayor P.O. Box 1562 Houston, Texas 77251-1562 Telephone - Dial 311 www.houstontx.gov October 12, 2017 Jeffrey P. Bezos President, CEO and Chairman of the Board Amazon 410 Teny Ave. North Seattle, WA 98109-5210 Dear Jeff, On behalf of the City of Houston, I am pleased to invite you back home to the fourth largest and most diverse city in America. Houston is where it all began for you and is where opportunities still abound for 2.3 million hard working Houstonians. As Mayor, I am excited about our proposal to become the home of Amazon and not merely its headquaiters. I am certain you will find that like Amazon, Houston is young, dynamic, energetic, and built on growth and innovation, We are a city where we believe that if you can dream it, you can do it. It's a place where, regardless of your background or what side of town you grew up on, there is opp01tunity for everyone. Houston is an inclusive city that welcomes everyone, regardless of origin, heritage or social status. As Amazon seeks to diversify and expand its rank at the executive, managerial and professional levels, there is no better place to locate than Houston Many companies have decided to locate their headquruters in Houston because of the access to highly educated and professional talent, as well as to suppliers, customers, and clients, The city's central location, our two intemational airpo1ts and extensive highway and rail network connect Houston to the east coast, west coast and the world, We also enjoy robust transit options, including light rail, an expansive bus network, popular ride-shai'ing and van pool programs, convenient access to an extensive freeway system and a planned high-speed rail system. Houston is the energy capital of the world, home to the largest medical center in the world, has the lru·gest port as it relates to foreign tonnage, and is home to the Johnson Space Center. We are also one of the best places in the world to live. Houston is recognized as one of America's friendliest and greenest cities, We value our environment and invest in our greenspaces, pru·ks, hike and bike trails. Our museum and theater districts are among the largest and most celebrated in the country. Amazon's employees will thrive in Houston thanks to a high quality of life, low cost of living, and a young city responsive to all generations, Amazon and Houston can grow together and we will look to Amazon to help steer that growth. After the devastating impact of Hurricane Harvey, the world had the chance to witness what we already know, Houston is a city of strength and resilience. We are a city with a bright future whose best days are yet ahead. With our pro-business environment and can-do attitude, we are confident that your people and your business will thrive in Houston. As we look to the future, there is no other city more uniquely positioned to be Amazon's new home than Houston. As the Mayor of the City of Houston, I want your business. I want Houston to be your home and I am asking you to come. Regards, ~r~ Mayor 2 Bernstein, Alan - MYR From: Bernstein, Alan - MYR Sent: Friday, December 15, 2017 10:45 AM To: Bernstein, Alan - MYR Subject: Fwd: Houston touts innovation in bid to bring 50,000 Amazon jobs to town I abc13.com Alan Bernstein Director of Communications Houston Mayor's Office 0 832 393 0800 M 832 943 9835 Begin forwarded message: From: Alan Date: November 30, 2017 at 1:27:24 PM CST To: Alan Bernstein <[email protected]> I Subject: Houston touts innovation In bid to bring 50,000 Amazon Jobs to town abc13.com https://na01,safelinks.protection.outlook.com/7url=http%3A%2F%2Fabc13.com%2Fbusiness%2Fhousto 1 n-wants-amazon-hq---and-lts-50000-new jobs%2F2714863%2F&data=02%7C01%7Calan.bernsteln%40houstontx.gov%7C8ala984e32424140b9aa 08d53828643c%7C57a85a10258b45b4a519c96c7721094c%7C0%7C0%7C636476668481474331&sdata= X92hXHld602EgzBjHl%2FTl1UIDWg6oewGHoAP%2FrNC8tY%3D&reserved=O Sent from my iPhone 1 Bernstein, Alan ~ MYR From: Bernstein, Alan - MYR Sent: Monday, October 23, 2017 4:57 PM To: 'Clint Pasche' Subject: RE: Innovation Presser Tomorrow -Amazon No Amazon unless asked. Alan Bernstein Director of Communications Office of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner 0 832-393-0800 M 832-943-9835 http:ijcityofhouston.newsL http ://ho usto ntx,gov / citizens net/ http:/1/houstontx.gov/socialmedia/ From: Clint Pasche Sent: Monday, Octo er , To: Bernstein, Alan -MYR <[email protected]> Subject: Innovation Presser Tomorrow -Amazon Alan, I think you were going to include Amazon and the innovation corridor in the mayor's remarks tomorrow-Just confirming that it made it in. Bob Harvey will be there tomorrow - in the Q&A, If the Mayor gets a specific Amazon question that he wants to defer to Bob, Bob is prepped to answer. Will follow the talking points. Thanks, Clint Clint Pasche Senior Vice President, Marketing and Communications '·. ;[,1 Partnership Tower PARTNERSHIP. I 701 Avenida de las Americas, Suite 900 Houston, TX 77010 I 713-844-3645 1 Amazon - Houston Proposal Talking Points Our Proposition • Houston is proposing a partnership with Amazon that challenges our city and the company to think big and think differently. • Houston's unique convergence of Industries presents a series of problem-sets that we can solve together. • As a company looking 10, 20, 30 years down the road with a mission to change the world, Amazon will not find a more able and willing partner than Houston. • Since Day One, we have been a city of disruption and we think we pair nicely with Amazon's culture Houston's Innovation Corridor • Houston's Innovation Corridor runs along a four-mile stretch of the METRORall Red Line and is the center of a powerful social and economic convergence. • The proposed sites are In or in the vicinity of the Corridor, however, we will not go Into specifics of the sites as we are bound by a non-disclosure agreement. • Anchored at the south by the world's largest medical complex, the Texas Medical Center along with top-ranked Rice University, the Corridor runs north to Downtown Houston. • The Corridor offers access to Houston's leading corporate headquarters, financial institutions, professional service firms along with key players In Houston's Innovation scene Including tech startups, incubators and accelerators. • The Corridor includes some of the city's top greenspaces, museums, pro sports venues, and restaurants, plus a wide-variety of housing options. • The corridor offers close access to two international airports, three interstates, 3 million workers, plus access to key game changers in business and an unparalleled array of amenities. WHY HOUSTON Houston Is America's Most Diverse City • Houston has no ethnic majority and one-in-four Houstonlans was born outside of the United States. • This diversity adds a richness to the fabric of Houston you will not find in many other cities. • As Amazon seeks to diversify Its ranks at the executive, manager and professional levels, there is no better place to locate than Houston. Houston offers a unique convergence of Industries ripe for disruption • Houston Is home to key global Industries teeming with challenge and opportunity: energy, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics and space. • These are sectors ripe for disruption, representing some of the richest opportunity sets for Amazon and its Innovators. • Our proposal offers several special opportunities and partnerships to drive game-changing solutions. Houston Is home to top STEM and computer software talent • Houston is home to 240,000 STEM specialists and consistently ranks first or second as the top city for the number of STEM workers and the highest concentration of engineers. • It also enjoys a large population of 97,550 workers in technology-related occupations. • As a company In the business of Industry disruption, Amazon can partner with the technical engineers and talent In our "legacy" industries to drive Innovation forward. Houston and Texas offer a great business cllmate • Through pro-growth policy, smart regulation and a favorable tax regime, Texas has emerged as the premier state for business expansion and relocation. • We are a right-to-work state and have no corporate or personal Income tax. • The City of Houston has set priorities of Its own to support growth and Innovation. • The City has no local minimum wage, permitting Is fast and frlendly, and the cost of doing business In Houston is well-below the U.S. major metro average. • Altogether, Houston offers Amazon one of the easiest and best places to do business in the country. Houston offers an Incredible quality of life that attracts talent • Our eclectic, culture-filled neighborhoods, restaurants and attractions offer diverse flavors that can only be found here. • Houston Is ranked as a top city for attracting millennia ls largely because we offer a high quality of life paired with a low cost of living. • Amazonlans can afford to enjoy everything Houston has to offer because their rent is lower, groceries are cheaper, and they can access more affordable healthcare than in most other major cities. Houston ls a gateway to the Americas and the world • Houston is positioned equidistant to the east and west coasts and offers easy access to every major city ln the U.S. • We also offer the most flights of any U.S. city to Mexico and direct access throughout Latin America. • Our two international airports are within 25 minutes of the proposed sites with daily non-stop flights to more than 190 destinations Including 69 international cities. • Additionally, Port Houston Is America's number one export seaport. • Amazon will find that Houston Is the perfect conduit to move both goods and people.