Tinley Park Submits Bid For Amazon HQ2

TINLEY PARK, IL — Amazon's search for its second headquarters could include Tinley Park, as village officials have suggested the former Tinley Park Mental Health Center site to become 'HQ2.' Tinley Park Economic Development Manager Patrick Hoban confirmed on Wednesday that the village has responded to Amazon's Request for Proposals.

Amazon's Request for Proposals includes proximity to mass transit, an International Airport and major highways in addition to a metropolitan area of more than 1 million people. Those qualifications and more make Tinley a desirable option, Hoban said.

"The biggest thing is the access to the work force they are looking for," Hoban said. "There's access to close to 300,000 workers in the science and tech industry within 45 minutes. That's an impressive number that will put Chicagoland high on their list."

Hoban said the suggestion to make the now vacant 280-acre Mental Health Center property at the northwest corner of 183rd Street and Harlem Avenue has been submitted to both the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

"The state owns the site, and it's right in the middle of Tinley," Hoban said. "We decided we needed to throw our hat in the ring."

Tinley owning its own fiber network helps too, he added, as does the site's close proximity to the 183rd Street Metra station.

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Hoban said that several spots in Chicagoland should get a good look from Amazon with a large number of computer science graduates coming out of UIC, DePaul, the University of Chicago and Northwestern every year.

But Hoban says another big push for Tinley is that it's home to not only "one of the top places to raise a family" but the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater and its music scene.

"We may try to connect the Amphitheater aspect with Amazon music," he said.

Photo via Google Maps/Amazon logo