Indeed, most of the responses from locals on Twitter land in the zone between relief and delight.
When Denver was named one of twenty finalists for Amazon HQ2 in January, folks concerned about out-of-control growth and rising housing costs offered a notably mixed reaction. Wrote one Westword reader: "If this happens, it'll be the kiss of death. I really will have to leave Denver."
Doubts that Amazon was serious about the Mile High City began surfacing shortly thereafter, with the New York Times suggesting that the company was trolling most of the finalist communities for the purposes of data mining. And last month, Governor John Hickenlooper, who'd initially cheered Denver's top-twenty status, suggested that Denver was no longer in the running for the facility. During an interview on Colorado Public Radio, he asked the rhetorical question, "Wouldn’t they rather have their second big hub on the East Coast?"
Turns out the answer is yes — but Amazon, which is based in Seattle, has continued to play games in regard to Denver's status. A few days after Hickenlooper's remarks, we received an email from the corporation about something that was described as exciting news under embargo. It turned out to be about the opening of a new retail store in Park Meadows mall.
After news broke about the selection of New York and Virginia, there remained a possibility that Colorado might still be thrown a bone of some type. But the only other city mentioned in the official HQ2 press release was Nashville, chosen as the site of "a new Center of Excellence for its Operations business, which is responsible for the company’s customer fulfillment, transportation, supply chain and other similar activities. The Operations Center of Excellence in Nashville will create more than 5,000 jobs."
Still, most locals are happy that Denver finished out of the money. See what we mean by counting down our picks for the twenty most memorable Tweets about Denver and HQ2.
Number 20:
Denver natives reaction to reports Amazon going somewhere else pic.twitter.com/Mo9yK57giO
— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) November 13, 2018
Number 19:
As a native of Denver I am happy that Amazon is going elsewhere. We don't have the infrastructure to handle more transplants. More importantly the CO we know and love; our culture, values, and lifestyle is become extinct with the massive growth and influx @KyleClark @nexton9news
— Traci Davis (@TraciDavis303) November 13, 2018
Number 18:
Sucks to be a New Yorker or Virginian, tbh. I'm soooooooo glad Amazon didn't come to Colorado. https://t.co/XRguKeMbgD
— Vikky Storm - Spooky Sea of Ghosts (@deathpigeon) November 13, 2018
Number 17:
Denver breathes a sigh of relief as Amazon picks New York and Virginia for new headquarters https://t.co/ng8lfFn8eC
— TheRabidSmiley (@TheRabidSmiley) November 13, 2018
Number 16:
"#Amazon picks #NewYorkCity"
— DaddyBear (@DaddyBearForex) November 13, 2018
This makes a lot of sense than a media's recommendation of #Denver #Colorado. The editor was a nut. https://t.co/aLCAP4rDTm
Number 15:
.@amazon good call with Crystal City Northern Virginia--DC itself would've been better but maybe liberal politicians didn't cut them good enough tax/reg. deal
— KnightSnake (@777RIT) November 13, 2018
NY-ehhhh (love NY, it's just business folks lol).
Denver, Miami, Atlanta all superior options long-term#AmazonHQ2
Number 14:
I was rooting for Denver and Dallas. Crystal City is already crowded, so I'm not sure how that will work. Not excited about the traffic.
— Nadia P. (@DomainSushi) November 13, 2018
Number 13:
The part I don't understand is why locate Amazon HQ2 to an area expected to be under water in 100 years? If I were Bezos I would pick a place with higher altitude... say Denver. No relocation charge in the future. This is a waste of cash in a flood zone.
— Chip Faust (@ChipFaust) November 13, 2018
Number 12:
What exactly would be the point of that? Why? What’s cool about trying to jumpstart Minneapolis into being a tech hub that it isn’t when you already have momentum in other places? You might as well try to make Denver into a cool new finance hub.
— Charlie O'Donnell (@ceonyc) November 13, 2018
Number 11:
I am sure there are as many Denverites who are relieved as there are disappointed. I am definitely in the pro-HQ2 camp and wish Amazon had selected Denver. Regardless, I think #Denver has positioned itself to be a major player in the global economy. https://t.co/j2S1z07bp9
— Greg Hill, JD, CAE (@GregHillCO) November 13, 2018
Number 10:
Amazon is not coming to denver god bless
— hey!!! (@noscopebirdIDer) November 13, 2018
Number 9:
Glad Denver didn't get it. Amazon still has a presence here but won't run the city. https://t.co/jqQyvxVJJF
— See-Oh-Dee-Why (@Nuggets_Nation) November 13, 2018
Number 8:
Sorry @CityofDenver I was cheering for you! #denver #colorado @jaredpolis @PolisForCO #amazon #nyc https://t.co/q1PZj1IPBT
— Janet O'Grady (@roving81611) November 13, 2018
Number 7:
My finances thank Amazon for not picking Denver for HQ2.
— Becca (@frogtosser) November 13, 2018
Number 6:
I wanted Denver for selfish reasons, but based on my convos with Amazon employees, this was not the location(s) they preferred. Bummer that they couldn’t have selected a city in desperate need of such an infusion. https://t.co/TYZraFv3I5
— Matt (@The_UnReal_Matt) November 13, 2018
Number 5:
Well, everyone who didn’t want Amazon HQ2 to come to Denver: it appears that your greatest wish is coming true! So happy for you!
— Bret Saunders (@Bretontheradio) November 13, 2018
Number 4:
I kept telling them - don't pick Denver or Boulder ... we don't have the road infrastructure, the schools, the water supply OR a world class public transportation system AND somehow... our folks like it that way@Amazon listened... Yay
— Ivan Tuma (@IvanTumaJr) November 13, 2018
Number 3:
It is a huge relief that @amazon isn’t coming to #Colorado we couldn’t afford the burden of HQ2 or 3.
— Hunter Mortensen (@Co_HunterM) November 13, 2018
Number 2:
Only reason I wanted the Amazon shit in Denver was for the hyper loop lol
— Rami Zissou (@Stache_money) November 13, 2018
Number 1:
This post has been updated to include information from the official Amazon HQ2 press release.My wife and I work full time for non-profits and we'll never be able to buy a house here in Denver. I can't imagine how bad it would have been with Amazon. Bullet dodged
— Thighnoceros (@IAmSpilly) November 13, 2018