Amazon in Chicago as HQ2 search narrows

Amazon was back in Chicago last month to take another look at a South Loop site along the river, as the e-commerce giant narrows its search for a planned second headquarters with up to 50,000 jobs.

In mid-August, members of Amazon's HQ2 site selection team made the return visit to Related Midwest's 62-acre planned development, called the 78, according to sources familiar with the visit.

It's the second known visit to the site by Amazon's real estate team, which previously toured it and four other locations during a March visit to Chicago.

It's unclear whether Amazon has made return visits to other sites in Chicago or other cities as the Seattle-based company considers 20 locations for the huge campus it is calling HQ2.

Amazon has said it will pick a winner by the end of 2018.

An Amazon spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the company's recent visit to Chicago.

Spokeswomen for Related Midwest and Mayor Rahm Emanuel declined to comment.

The site is bordered by the Chicago River, Roosevelt Road, Clark Street and Chinatown's Ping Tom Park.

Pending approval from the city, Related Midwest has said it plans about 13 million square feet of buildings on the site, including skyscrapers up to 950 feet tall.

The 78 is likely to include a mix of office, residential, hotel, retail and entertainment space.

Amazon announced just over a year ago its desire to create a second headquarters campus, saying the company planned to create up to 50,000 high-paying jobs in about eight million square feet of buildings.

Chicago was among 238 cities and regions that submitted proposals, and it was one of 20 contenders announced when the list was narrowed in January.