Reports: Amazon to split second headquarters between N.Y., Virginia

Nov. 12 (UPI) -- Amazon plans to announce it will split its second headquarters between New York and northern Virginia, according to reports Monday night.

The Washington Post reported Amazon will announce plans to open its newest headquarters in New York City and Crystal City, Va., as early as Tuesday, citing people close to the decision-making process who spoke on the condition of anonymity after signing nondisclosure agreements with the company.

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, who owns The Washington Post, previously said the company expects "HQ2 to be a full equal to our Seattle headquarters," which employs about 50,000 workers.

The Wall Street Journal reported the headquarters will be split evenly between the New York and Virginia locations, also citing people familiar with the matter.

The New York location would be located in the Long Island City neighborhood in Queens, across the East River from midtown Manhattan, and the Crystal City location would initially occupy a building on 1851 South Bell Street or 1770 Crystal Drive in Arlington, the Washington Post reported.

Crystal City was identified as a potential location for Amazon's second headquarters last week after the Washington Post reported Amazon has inquired how quickly it can move employees to northern Virginia to staff the campus and how the announcement should be made.

Amazon Economic Development Director Mike Grella rebuked the "genius" responsible for the leak, stating it wasn't doing the city any favors and encouraging the leaker to stop treating the non-disclosure agreement "like a used napkin."

A total of 238 locations initially submitted proposals to host the headquarters before the field was narrowed to about 20 finalists.