Tech Companies

A long rail bridge, rusted and old, crosses a long stretch of water with hills and clouds on the other side.

Meta’s Plans to Revive an Old Rail Bridge Halted During the Pandemic

The company formerly known as Facebook’s once planned to revive the Dumbarton Rail Bridge across the San Francisco Bay. Those plans are as derelict as the bridge.

January 12, 2023 - The New York Times

Image of transit oriented development around Union Station in Denver.

Tech Jobs Could Be Dispersing Away From 'Superstar' Cities

The rise of remote work and a need for new talent may be pushing tech companies away from their traditional hubs, but 'superstar' cities continue to lead the way.

April 5, 2022 - Brookings

Downtown Kansas City Missouri

Kansas City: 'Silicon Prairie?'

The city's growth and the arrival of tech giants like Meta could signal a tech-based renaissance.

March 30, 2022 - Market Watch

New York City

Ride-Hailing Prices Skyrocket as the U.S. Emerges From the Pandemic

A shortage of drivers and spiking demand are driving Uber and Lyft prices higher than ever as the companies struggle to achieve profitability.

June 15, 2021 - Curbed

New York City Tech Office

Big Tech Bets on the Big Apple

Amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic, the four biggest U.S. technology companies have leased or bought enough office space in New York City for 22,000 employees.

October 15, 2020 - The New York Times

Smart City Apps and Intelligent Lighting Controls from Current by GE

New Opportunities for Big Data in Pandemic-Era Urban Planning

Big data startups and corporations are collecting information that can help planners make informed decisions about how to facilitate social distancing. Will planners center data-driven decisions in other planning processes?

July 6, 2020 - Lincoln Institute of Land Policy

Cupertino, California

Google's Decade of Land Acquisition Cresting During the Pandemic

According to reports, Google parent company Alphabet is pulling back on two massive land acquisition deals amidst the economic uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. A development approval setback will also slow the company's expansion.

April 27, 2020 - San Jose Inside

Google Headquarters

Google Continues to Expand in San Jose

Google has laid the foundation for four large, and distinct, employment centers in just one city of the South Bay Area.

December 6, 2019 - The Mercury News

Cupertino, California

Why Big Tech Billions Won't Dent California's Housing Crisis

New multibillion-dollar affordable housing commitments from leading tech firms may build out thousands of units, but that's nothing next to California's gargantuan housing shortage.

November 9, 2019 - The New York Times

Cupertino, California

Apple Pledges $2.5 Billion for Housing Affordability

It's been a big year for tech giants pledging money to mitigate the affordability crisis in the regions and cities they call home. Apple joins a club that includes Google, Facebook, and Microsoft.

November 4, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

Google bikes

Google Expanding its Presence in San Jose

Google has expanded its footprint in North San Jose to cover 1.27 million square feet. Local officials are saying that the company's acquisitions ensure the long-term financial stability of the city.

May 18, 2019 - The Mercury News

Control Room

WeWork's Real Estate Arm Launches 'Future Cities' Initiative

Another buzzy tech company with roots in the real estate market has designs on the "smart cities" revolution.

April 12, 2019 - Quartz

Cupertino, California

Google, Apple Expanding Around the Country, Spending Billions Along the Way

Both Apple and Google have announced expansions in recent days that required a ten-figure total to describe.

December 17, 2018 - The Washington Post

New York

Google Planning Massive Expansion in New York City

Google's plan to add 12,000 new workers in the city of New York is the second tech company bonanza for the city this week.

November 8, 2018 - The Wall Street Journal

The Embarcadero

Corporate Cafeterias Survive Proposed Legislation to Zone Them Out of Existence

San Francisco's Planning Commission rejected a bill that would have made it illegal to open new office cafeterias, recommending that legislation be crafted to allow these eateries to be open to the public instead.

November 1, 2018 - San Francisco Chronicle

Twitter Headquarters

San Francisco Could Zone Out Workplace Cafeterias

Large corporations providing on-site cafeterias are considered a threat to local restaurant business.

July 31, 2018 - San Francisco Examiner

Electric Scooters

Big Tech's Growing Imprint on Urban Life

Examples like Elon Musk's subway plan in Chicago, app-driven electric scooters littering sidewalks, and Amazon's general preponderance may point to a tech-dominated urban future. But are localities ceding too much power to the private sector?

July 8, 2018 - The New York Times

Seattle, Washington

Tech Companies Pulled $9.3 Billion in State and Local Subsidies in Five Years

Good Jobs First put a price tag on the lucrative deals local and state officials throw at flashy tech companies. It's a trend that is only growing with deals like Foxconn in Wisconsin and the expected Amazon HQ2 announcement.

July 6, 2018 - The Guardian

Self-Driving Car

Handicapping the Self-Driving Horse Race

There are a lot of players in the autonomous vehicle game. It can be hard to keep track of which company is fighting for which share of the market, and which companies are out in front in the race to dominate the emerging industry.

May 8, 2018 - Bloomberg

Silicon Valley

Expecting a Mass Exodus of Tech Talent From Coastal Cities

An expert says the Republican tax bill is likely to accelerate an exodus away from traditional tech hubs toward more affordable areas.

December 31, 2017 - CNBC

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