Amazon HQ2 in New York: Current Status and Location
Amazon selected New York City as one of two headquarters for its HQ2 initiative in November 2018. The chosen site is in Long Island City, Queens, adjacent to the Sunnyside Yard rail yards. The campus was planned to span up to 2.5 million square feet across two towers, with the tallest tower reaching approximately 750 feet. Amazon committed to a $2.5 billion investment in the New York campus, with the goal of creating up to 25,000 high-paying jobs over the long term. The project was developed in partnership with the New York Economic Development Corporation and the City of New York. For the latest official updates on the campus timeline and scope, see Amazon's corporate announcements page Amazon HQ2 News.
In February 2019, Amazon paused the New York HQ2 project after opposition from local officials and community groups. The company cited a lack of supportive state and city government relationships, specifically regarding the $3 billion incentive package. Amazon stated it would continue evaluating other potential sites but would not actively pursue the Long Island City location at that time. The decision was widely reported by major outlets, with Forbes covering the reversal and its implications for corporate incentives Forbes HQ2 Reversal Coverage. As of the most recent public data, Amazon has not resumed active development for a large-scale New York HQ campus at the original Long Island City site.
HQ2 Jobs, Salaries, and Economic Impact
Amazon originally projected that HQ2 in New York would create 25,000 direct jobs over the long term, with an average salary exceeding $150,000. The jobs were expected to span technical, corporate, and operational roles, including software engineering, finance, and human resources. The campus was designed to house up to 50,000 employees across both New York and Arlington locations combined. According to SEC filings and economic impact analyses, Amazon's presence in New York was expected to generate additional indirect jobs in construction, retail, and services. The company's SEC filings provide detailed breakdowns of capital expenditure plans and workforce projections SEC Amazon Filings.
Independent economic analyses estimated that Amazon's HQ2 could have contributed billions in annual economic output to the New York metro area. The New York City Economic Development Corporation published impact studies highlighting the expected tax revenue and infrastructure investments tied to the project. Critics questioned the cost per job created under the proposed incentive package. The project's pause shifted focus to Amazon's existing New York offices, which already employ thousands of workers across multiple locations. For a detailed breakdown of Amazon's global office footprint and workforce data, see Bloomberg's corporate data coverage Bloomberg Amazon Company Profile.
Amazon's New York Office Presence Today
Amazon maintains a significant office presence in New York City outside of the paused HQ2 campus. The company operates offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and other boroughs, focusing on technology, advertising, and corporate functions. Amazon Web Services (AWS) has a large footprint in New York, supporting cloud infrastructure and enterprise sales teams. The company continues to hire for thousands of roles across its New York offices, with job listings spanning engineering, finance, and operations. Amazon's career site lists current openings and office locations in New York