Clark Construction plans to begin installing utilities for PenPlace, the second phase of Amazon’s HQ2, which remains delayed but, we’re told, not scaled back.
Work on South Fern Street, South Eads Street and 12th Street South in Arlington will begin March 18 and continue through April, according to a Monday construction update email from Clark.
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), which in March of 2023 paused development plans for the second and larger phase of its second headquarters, wouldn’t say when construction would start or when the project would deliver. A spokesperson told me in an email that the e-commerce giant has made “no changes” to its hiring or construction plans, including for a new public school.
While that’s been the party line since last year, we can’t be blamed for wondering whether Amazon might throttle back its HQ2 plans, along with its hiring.The firm laid off 27,000 corporate and tech employees in the first few months of 2023, and in its most recent earnings conference call didn’t suggest a major hiring spree is on the horizon.
While Amazon is adding roles in some areas, “there’s a general feeling in most teams that we’re looking to hold the line on headcount, perhaps go down as we can drive efficiencies,” Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky told reporters in a call Feb. 1.
Phase one of Amazon HQ2, known as Metropolitan Park — 2.1 million square feet of new office space in two towers — opened to workers in May of 2023. Eventually, 14,000 people are supposed to work there.
Washington Business Journal
