MarketScale recently curated my Forbes piece on Amazon HQ2 and their evacuation plan, or potential lack of one. Their second HQ is set to be split between Virginia and NY, specifically Long Island, an area known for flooding during coastal storms. This move puts Amazon in a tricky position to build a functional, safe and thoughtful new facility with plans in place in case of a disaster. I break down my article and discuss how facility managers in Long Island City have already been battling this flooding issue for decades.
As large companies expand and bring in business and economy to an area, challenges come with the territory. The Long Island City deal is no exception. I love the Long Island City idea but has concerns about the climate, especially with their plan to build right on the water.
Amazon planners have a lot to think about during this transition. With awareness not as keen as it could be, builders could have their work cut out for them. It is really important that Amazon take this into account and be sure to look at all the building codes that regulate this industry in this area, including state and federal rules that not only prohibit certain plans but sometimes conflict with one another.
In addition, I remind listeners that while developers want build, build, build, truly smart development would not just look at what is currently an issue but what might be an issue into the future—because presumably, they are not planning to build a facility for only the next ten years.
This podcast episode originally aired on MakretScale: Building Management on December 19, 2018. Listen to the full episode here.
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