New Yorkers are making lots of doomsday predictions about Amazon’s HQ2. Here are all the things that could make it a disaster.

pulse

November 17, 2018 4:56 PM

As Amazon prepares to move its second headquarters to Long Island City, the area could face issues of homelessness and displacement, among others.

HQ2
announced on Tuesday

New York's governor may be rejoicing at the news that Amazon will move half of its second headquarters to Long Island City, Queens, but the mood among residents is one of outrage and despair.

A day after the announcement, New Yorkers gathered at a rally in Queens led by two local politicians Senator Michael Gianaris and

The subway could become even more unbearable.

There's good news and bad news for riders of the MTA. On the one hand, Amazon employees commuting to Long Island City would be going against rush hour traffic. On the other, New York's subway system is already plagued by overcrowding and delays, making it ill-equipped to handle more passengers.

"If

While Amazon has pledged to provide

Real estate prices could skyrocket.

In just a few short years, Long Island City has become increasingly unaffordable for both renters and homeowners. In the Hunters Point neighborhood,

Renters could struggle to find an apartment.

Data from real estate site RENTCafé shows that apartments in Long Island City have exceeded

Amazon employees could take over Long Island City, then abandon it.

Amazon's new headquarters has been touted as a way to increase local economic activity. Among many startups, the common understanding is that a rising tide lifts all boats: Amazon will introduce a new set of employees, who will then filter into existing businesses once they leave the company.

Data from the

Taxpayers will be on the hook.

As part of the Amazon deal, New York gave the company

Local businesses could shutter their doors.

As Amazon has expanded its presence in Seattle, local businesses have found it increasingly difficult to meet the demands of rising rents. In recent years, many beloved c

After 25 years of business, an

Anable Basin Sailing Bar & Grill, for instance, is located in the middle of Amazon's future headquarter site.

Homelessness could abound.

Long Island City has a relatively small population, but it already struggles to combat homelessness. This spring, residents of the city's Blissville neighborhood opposed the conversion of

The city — and Amazon headquarters — could be flooded by 2050.

Amazon may be powerless in the face of climate change, but it doesn't help that its second headquarters will be located directly along a flood zone.

By the time the new headquarters is complete, there's a 45% chance that flooding will already have arrived in Queens.

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