Chicago tries to woo tech workers in Austin, elsewhere

[Camelback]

Tech (techie type buildings) isn't a very urban industry. Chicago could probably build a huge open space campus style tech development on the Southside though.

[craigs]

Originally Posted by Camelback

Tech (techie type buildings) isn't a very urban industry. Chicago could probably build a huge open space campus style tech development on the Southside though.

There are notable exceptions to that rule, though, especially recently: Amazon has a trio of 37-story towers in downtown Seattle; Salesforce has a 1,017 ft. supertall downtown SF headquarters, and they are also building an 835 ft. tower in Chicago right now. I'm sure there are other examples.

[SIGSEGV]

Originally Posted by Camelback

Tech (techie type buildings) isn't a very urban industry. Chicago could probably build a huge open space campus style tech development on the Southside though.

Electronics companies (like you might be familiar with in Phoenix) for sure not. But software companies do fine in places like this:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8867...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8869...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8964...7i16384!8i8192

and to be honest, I even love the Tripp Lite HQ. It's ugly in a charming way:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8306...7i16384!8i8192

but yeah, there are a lot of companies in the suburbs too:
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0120...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8104...7i16384!8i8192

[Camelback]

Originally Posted by SIGSEGV

Electronics companies (like you might be familiar with in Phoenix) for sure not. But software companies do fine in places like this:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8867...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8869...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8964...7i16384!8i8192

and to be honest, I even love the Tripp Lite HQ. It's ugly in a charming way:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8306...7i16384!8i8192

but yeah, there are a lot of companies in the suburbs too:
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0120...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8104...7i16384!8i8192

It's entirely possible for any tech company to build a mid-rise or fill-in existing open commercial space in the city. I was thinking more along the lines of current day Chicago landing a spaceship style Apple HQ complex, if that were to happen (and it could) it could happen in the Southside, where there is a ton of land and with legacy rail lines to serve it.

[LA21st]

Originally Posted by SIGSEGV

Electronics companies (like you might be familiar with in Phoenix) for sure not. But software companies do fine in places like this:

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8867...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8869...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8964...7i16384!8i8192

and to be honest, I even love the Tripp Lite HQ. It's ugly in a charming way:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8306...7i16384!8i8192

but yeah, there are a lot of companies in the suburbs too:
https://www.google.com/maps/@42.0120...7i16384!8i8192

https://www.google.com/maps/@41.8104...7i16384!8i8192

I'm visiting Chicago in July for 10 days, and I'm definetely gonna spend time in the Fulton District. Can't wait to see the changes.

[C.]

Originally Posted by SIGSEGV

looks like a tiny Pequod's pizza or something?

Bingo! Pequod is my favorite in Chicago, but it gets a lot of hate sometimes for being different.

[jd3189]

Tech could be the key to revitalize the South Side.

[SIGSEGV]

Originally Posted by C.

Bingo! Pequod is my favorite in Chicago, but it gets a lot of hate sometimes for being different.

I've only had Pequod for delivery because no way in hell you're getting in normally...

[bossabreezes]

I'm in tech and would never live in either city, but nice try Chicago.

[Manitopiaaa]

Originally Posted by homebucket

I can’t speak for others but if I had to pick, I’d choose to suck up the winters and live in Chicago over Austin for all the reasons stated above. It’s probably even cheaper to live there than in Austin. As nice as Austin probably is for a smaller metro it’s not in the same league as a world class city like Chicago. It’s definitely underperforming on the tech front relative to its size, so there’s only room for improvement.

Austin is extremely overrated. Their most famous neighborhood - South Congress Avenue - was very disappointing (we have neighborhoods here in Alexandria with more urbanity and uniqueness, like Del Ray or Old Town).

Sixth Street? was fun and lively, but nothing compared to what Chicago has in Boystown, Wicker Park, Pilsen, Logan Square, etc.

Congress Avenue Bats was a bore. Austin City Limits has rude staff. The murals get boring after 3 hours of walking around in the sun.

I did really enjoy the LBJ Library though (beautiful interior) and their barbecue (the best I've ever had), but Chicago >>>>>> Austin in every category.

I might be a heathen, but I actually enjoyed San Antonio far more than Austin. Beautiful architecture, the Missions are incredible, Mi Tierra is pretty, San Fernando Cathedral had a great light show, Alamo is tiny, but the surrounding area is very nice and historic.

I even preferred Dallas to Austin (I actually left thinking Dallas was criminally underrated, and had a wonderful time there).

[mhays]

Originally Posted by Camelback

Tech (techie type buildings) isn't a very urban industry. Chicago could probably build a huge open space campus style tech development on the Southside though.

In urban cities it is. Turns out that if you're hiring young adults at six-figure salaries, a large percentage prefer urbanity.

[glowrock]

Originally Posted by C.

Ya but

Pequods!!!!

Aaron (Glowrock)

[ocman]

Originally Posted by Camelback

Tech (techie type buildings) isn't a very urban industry. Chicago could probably build a huge open space campus style tech development on the Southside though.

Pretty much this. Not that we're talking about what it takes to lure tech companies, but the industry traditionally builds in suburban-ish areas with large development lots and plenty of parking. Maybe next to a major city, but not in it. And tech grads just follow where the jobs are. Boosters/politicians spend far too much time upselling to the tech industry how trendy, cool and cultured the city is, rather than addressing their reputation of anti-business or the red tape, taxes, costs, land etc. Tech doesn’t care about cool or culture. They care about the substance that will help their business succeed. No wonder world-class cities constantly fail at these campaigns but Texas/Florida are highly successful with them.

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by glowrock

Pequods!!!!

Aaron (Glowrock)

I know this may sound silly, but some people actually would move somewhere just for the food

[the urban politician]

Originally Posted by ocman

Pretty much this. Not that we're talking about what it takes to lure tech companies, but the industry traditionally builds in suburban-ish areas with large development lots and plenty of parking. Maybe next to a major city, but not in it. And tech grads just follow where the jobs are. Boosters/politicians spend far too much time upselling to the tech industry how trendy, cool and cultured the city is, rather than addressing their reputation of anti-business or the red tape, taxes, costs, land etc. Tech doesn’t care about cool or culture. They care about the substance that will help their business succeed. No wonder world-class cities constantly fail at these campaigns but Texas/Florida are highly successful with them.

Yep. But the reason is simple—urban cities are just not going to offer less red tape, lower taxes, less burdensome regulations as places out in Texas/Florida. They aren’t even planning on trying. Their best bet is to sell the “cool” factor. I think it’s mostly smoke and mirrors and most company owners will see right through it. But some WFH employees might be willing to make he move to be closer to home.

[The North One]

Originally Posted by iheartthed

Misguided. I doubt any of these campaigns to lure back natives have ever worked.

Yeah, I think it's a really stupid waste of time to chase a bunch of loser frat dudes. Who cares if they left?

Chicago and all Midwest/Northeast cities grew and thrived by immigration, and that's what they all still need now. Cities should encourage that and spend time and efforts on people that are already living there.

There's nothing wrong with promoting your city though, cities can benefit from good marketing. But that mainly comes in the form of investors and tourism. I don't think anybody moves across the country because of a good marketing campaign.

[homebucket]

Originally Posted by The North One

Yeah, I think it's a really stupid waste of time to chase a bunch of loser frat dudes. Who cares if they left?

Chicago and all Midwest/Northeast cities grew and thrived by immigration, and that's what they all still need now. Cities should encourage that and spend time and efforts on people that are already living there.

There's nothing wrong with promoting your city though, cities can benefit from good marketing. But that mainly comes in the form of investors and tourism. I don't think anybody moves across the country because of a good marketing campaign.

Tech companies are comprised of predominately white and Asian nerds/geeks. Not exactly frat bro material.

[dimondpark]

Nothing wrong with a city marketing itself, Chicago has a lot to brag about and it is truly one of the most stunning Urban environments in the country. The Texas model appears to be throwing tax breaks and a bunch of free stuff to lure companies down there, and that has served their desire to bring companies there, fine, but neither Austin nor anywhere else in the rest of Texas has a particularly strong Innovation ecosystem as far as funding and incubation imo. That's why I think Chicago would be better served leveraging the uber prestigious academic institutions in and around the city, namely Northwestern, and University of Chicago(talk about top tier) plus the U.of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has a very good reputation in Silicon Valley.

What are their engineering students up to? How can their ideas benefit from Chicago's massive investment banking network? How about focusing on being more inclusive than Silicon Valley has been.

I dunno, just a thought.

[mhays]

Originally Posted by ocman

Pretty much this. Not that we're talking about what it takes to lure tech companies, but the industry traditionally builds in suburban-ish areas with large development lots and plenty of parking. Maybe next to a major city, but not in it. And tech grads just follow where the jobs are. Boosters/politicians spend far too much time upselling to the tech industry how trendy, cool and cultured the city is, rather than addressing their reputation of anti-business or the red tape, taxes, costs, land etc. Tech doesn’t care about cool or culture. They care about the substance that will help their business succeed. No wonder world-class cities constantly fail at these campaigns but Texas/Florida are highly successful with them.

I'll say it again. Tech likes the cores of urban cities. SF, Seattle, and NYC in particular have a lot of urban tech. In Seattle's case, half of all tech jobs are in the urban core (my guess) and a large percentage of the rest is in other urban locations such as Downtown Bellevue or central Kirkland. Also the urban core dominates local biotech.

Some tech companies want to hire 35-year-olds with families, for stable, long-term positions. For example legacy companies and companies in commodity fields...think Office Space. These often gravitate toward suburban locations.

But others focus on hiring 20-somethings and "stars," and focus more on new innovation and the next big thing, or they're on the creative side like gaming. Some big companies are like that. These increasingly gravitated toward urban locations pre-Covid. They pay six figures so their employees can afford it.

Chicago has an excellent urban core, well suited for the second type of companies in particular. Especially given how cheap the city is.

[Buckeye Native 001]

Not just the Illinois universities. Hell, most of the Big Ten aside from Ohio State and Nebraska (current and former football factories) are premier institutions and a lot of their alum gravitate toward Chicago.

Then again, UT and A&M aren't exactly academic slouches.