Amazon May Put New Headquarters In Herndon: Report

HERNDON, VA -- If you're excited -- or worried -- about the prospect of Amazon placing its massive second headquarters in Northern Virginia, there's big news: Amazon officials took a close look at Herndon in person last week, according to a report.

The Washington Post reports that Amazon officials quietly visited the D.C. area to check out various sites that could host the headquarters, which would be as big as the main headquarters in Seattle and would bring 50,000 jobs and billions of dollars in investment to whichever area is chosen.

During their visit, they dropped by the Center for Innovative Technology campus in Herndon, and dined with Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam.

Northam said he had "some really good discussions with Amazon," and that staff showed the officials four sites. In addition to Herndon, Amazon officials also examined sites in Arlington and Alexandria.

The officials also visited sites in D.C. and Montgomery County, Md. last week.

Herndon is an attractive site for Amazon's second headquarters for a long list of reasons. For one thing, the Reston and Herndon area has earned a reputation as a rapidly growing high-tech business hub, which is something Amazon is looking for. And the fact that it is right next door to a major international airport, Dulles Airport, is a major plus as well. Herndon might also offer the space that sites in D.C. or even Arlington might lack to fit tens of thousands of new employees. And with a couple of Herndon Metro stations scheduled to open soon, the area would get a boost in mass transit options.

The D.C. area as a whole has emerged as a frontrunner in the race for Amazon's 2nd headquarters. It earned three spots on Amazon's 20-city shortlist. Amazon's owner, Jeff Bezos, recently purchased the Washington Post and owns a house in D.C.

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