HQ2 Opens at National Landing

Years in the making, Amazon’s new HQ2 is now open in National Landing. Amazon first announced a location for its HQ2 five years ago, and phase two is finally complete.

The new Metropolitan Park consists of two 22-story office towers, named Jasper and Merlin. The pair of towers is the first phase of HQ2 and serves as the home base for around 8,000 Amazon employees.

Construction actually began in early 2020, but eventually the plan calls for around 25,000 jobs by 2030. While phase two of the project is currently on “pause”, reports suggest it’s still in the works for some point in the future.

It’s hoped the new HQ2 will be not only a big boost for the surrounding National Landing neighborhood, but also for much of Northern Virginia. The state offered Amazon a reported $750 million in incentives to build in National Landing.

Right across from DC, National Landing is currently being transformed into a mixed-use destination. Thanks, in part, to the influx of new workers at Amazon, new development includes some new multi-family residences, including some condos, apartments, single-family homes, and townhomes.

More than 15,000 residential units already exist in National Landing, and thousands more are planned for the future. National Landing is also attracting a new community gathering place, called Water Park, and some new restaurants.

In fact, this urban area is filled with eateries, shops, and entertainment offerings, many of which are within walking distance. As well, you’ll find some nearby parks and green space, in addition to some trails, art galleries, and a vibrant business community, which now includes the addition of the new Amazon HQ2.

The name National Landing was actually coined just five years ago when it was rebranded. The area consists of the neighborhoods of Crystal City, Potomac Yard, and Pentagon City.