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Comment by rmason | Hacker News Reader

He needs to add Detroit to his list. Amazon already has two large warehouses and a small developer office there. The only negative on the list is a less than overwhelming public transport system.

But they've got lots of cheap land, and both an international airport and an international border as well as three world class universities within an hours drive. Not to mention a metro area with a population of 4.5 million.

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My impression of Detroit is that it's a bunch of pretty nice suburbs clustered around a sucking chest-wound of a city. Some areas are flat out depopulating. The government pays to demolish abandoned buildings so they don't become firetraps.

If I were Amazon, I'd stay clear of such a place.

It's reasonable to look at their RFP as a wishlist (like all RFPs). My guess is that something like good public transit will have to give among all the attributes that they'd prefer (including cost).

They need to be able to convince lots of people to move there. Detroit will be a hard sell.

Which universities are within an hours drive? Michigan, obviously.

People in the Metro Detroit area seem to conflate University of Michigan, Michigan State, and Wayne State as being equals / near equals.

The big state colleges are regarded as equals in the state, only in athletic terms. Everyone knows Michigan is the lone standout academically.

Compared to more outdoor friendly cities out west, Detroit is a downright depressing place to live. Especially for young people.

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