October 26, 2009
The Best City in the World?
ConstructZero.ORG and ConstructZero.COM need a home.
(reference: Construct Zero)
Up to this point we've been running the organizations almost entirely virtually. We have staff all over the world. That works suprisingly wonderfully, but it has its disadvantages - and we can't very well conduct scientific research on the scale we're planning via the Internet.
Moving forward, we need to select a location for the corpororate HQ that will be very close to the research center.
Criteria:
- large (50 to 100 acres), developable, flat land plots easily attainable within 20 miles of the city, preferably connected by a direct highway
- a truly metropolitan city with a rich culture of arts and entertainment
- at least two universities
- a major air hub (so people don't have to take connecting flights)
- temperate climate (we'll accept a bit of heat - we won't accept freezing cold)
- responsible citizenry and government (we don't want to live in a city where people don't care enough to keep it clean and beautiful)
- in the USA (we're more likely to get the diversity of talents we need here)
- favorable tax regime
- housing and land must be relatively inexpensive
- a government that is pro-business and unlikely to hinder our activities with undue scrutiny or regulation
Yes, yes, some will say I'm looking for a Utopia that won't be found this side of Galt's Gulch, but why not ask for everything you want?
Now, here's what's really surprising ...
We loaded all of these criteria into a matrix and you know what we found?
Houston.
Houston?
Well, it surprisingly seems to fit these criteria. Who would have guessed? It's the 4th largest city in the USA and seems to be what we're looking for.
The problem is, I've never been there.
So, I'm putting the question to you.
Can you suggest another city?
Or, if you've been to Houston, what do you think?
(Other cities we've considered of particular interest: San Diego - ruled out because of the tax system in California and the cost of land, Las Vegas - lowered in consideration because of freezing winters, Austin - ruled out because it's not an airline hub.)
Posted by Mark Joyner at 10:35 AM | Comments (36) | TrackBack