CodeVA
Expect the Unexpected
HQ2 is rolling out according to plan, with two noteworthy exceptions.
First, the pandemic brought new challenges to navigate. But by every measure, these challenges didn’t stall the project’s momentum.
“I think we changed and modified to address the pandemic,” Huseman said, calling these pivots purposeful and a source of pride for Amazon.
One of these adaptations has been a shift to virtual community gatherings and municipal meetings. Matt Kelly, CEO of JBG SMITH Properties, National Landing’s developer, cited the greater level of participation and interaction that online meetings created.
“In many ways, it broadens the base of people who can participate,” Kelly said.
Second, Amazon has embraced its role as a corporate citizen. In November 2020, the company announced $9 million of contributions to nonprofit and community groups to commemorate the project’s two-year anniversary. This included gifts for legal service providers to support local families, organizations advancing racial equality, and community groups helping to advance economic opportunity through literacy programs and job training.
Amazon estimates it’s engaged with more than 100 area nonprofit and community groups since HQ2 began.
“From the beginning of HQ2, we wanted to start out on the right foot,” Huseman said. “We want to be the best corporate citizen we can be.”
One of the beneficiaries of Amazon’s community outreach is CodeVA, a nonprofit founded with the mission of bringing equitable computer science education to all of Virginia’s students. In 2019, CodeVA received a note from Mat Wisner, founder of Amazon Future Engineer, a comprehensive childhood-to-career program aimed at increasing access to computer science education for children and young adults from underserved and underrepresented communities.
The note requested a few proposals Amazon might fund. That outreach sparked a back-and-forth that landed on the CS Ready Schools Program, a partnership between CodeVA and the Virginia Department of Education to design computer science curriculum and teacher training. Amazon donated $3.9 million through 2022 to support Virginia’s goal of offering computer science education and training to every high-needs school in the state. More than 700 schools that may otherwise lack access, training, or funding will benefit from the donation, which includes virtual resources and training for students and more than 12,000 teachers.
A Growing Sense of Community
An undercurrent runs through National Landing that’s much more than the sum of its parts. It’s a growing sense of community — and it’s growing more vibrant by the day.
“As we get to know some of the nonprofits and neighbors, I do think there’s this sense of togetherness and partnership,” Huseman said.
Kelly and JBG SMITH know National Landing well, having acquired a substantial number of properties in the area with their eyes on the future. This move serendipitously intersected with Amazon’s selection of the area.
“It’s a bit of a renaissance in this neighborhood,” Kelly said, noting he’s seeing some of the excitement and vibrance it used to possess now returning.
Some of the other planned upgrades and placemaking initiatives are even more impactful, ranging from time-saving to life-changing. Amazon is prioritizing walkways, landscaping, and retail over vehicle traffic and plans to move all vehicle access underground to create a welcoming environment for pedestrians. Additionally, the surrounding streets will have protected bike lanes and each HQ2 office building will have dedicated, street-level bike entrances and facilities to encourage bicycle commuting.
Other planned transportation upgrades include a new $320 million Potomac Yard Metro Station slated for completion in 2022. Additionally, environmental impact studies have been completed for the Long Bridge expansion, a $1.9 billion rail project that will bring a second set of tracks to a heavily trafficked stretch connecting Virginia and Washington, D.C. The proposed pedestrian bridge connecting National Landing to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport could be completed by 2025.
A new grocery store and other retail options are on the way, as well as an effort to bring affordable housing to the area. JBG SMITH has begun construction on the first 800 of what will be 5,000 units. Help also arrived in January 2021 when Amazon named Arlington one of three communities to benefit from its Housing Equity Fund. According to Amazon, the $2 billion investment ($382 million of which is earmarked for Arlington) is designed to preserve existing housing and create inclusive housing developments through below-market loans and grants to housing partners, traditional and nontraditional public agencies, and minority-led organizations.
What's Next
When Collins imagines what’s possible for the growing innovation ecosystem from his temporary office space, he looks at Silicon Valley, Austin, and North Carolina’s Research Triangle.
“One of the ingredients is a strong academic program that’s oriented toward developing technology,” Collins said.
Another key ingredient is employers who understand their role inside and outside the boardroom.