9 Reasons
Silicon Valley Should Move to Chicago
Posted: 03/18/2015 10:46
am EDT Updated: 03/18/2015 10:59 am EDT
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Are you tired of living in Silicon Valley's tech bubble? Do you
want to be part of a growing startup-friendly tech hub? Come to Chicago! Here
are nine more reasons to make the move:
Water: Chicago has water. Lots of water. Take lots of guilt-free long
hot showers. Spring through fall, sail on the great lake Michigan. Join the
famous Mackinac Boat Race. Watch the annual Air and Water Show.
Fly Anywhere Nonstop: Chicago has an international
airport with direct nonstop flights to major cities and world capitals
including New York, London, Washington, San Francisco, Amman (Jordan), Tokyo,
Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Doha (Qatar), Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Delhi, Hong Kong, and
Singapore.
Fun and Food: Chicago has a great nightlife with bars, pubs, and dance clubs. Restaurants aren't
crowded; you can get a table at the best restaurants in town without much fuss.
In fact, you'll get a seat almost any time of day. Last Wednesday, I
breakfasted at the Michigan Avenue Le Pain Quotidien at 7:40 a.m. In New York,
the place would be packed at that hour, but in Chicago, I had the place to
myself. Carlos, the friendly server, and Devon, the cheerful cashier, would
love to see you! In the summer, dine al fresco at one of Chicago's many outdoor
garden or lakefront restaurants.
Great homes and views: Chicago has abundant affordable
luxury apartments and homes with lots of space and stellar views. Yes, Chicago
has lagged the rest of the country in housing cost rises, but that is an
opportunity for you. You can buy a tiny condo in Silicon Valley or a penthouse
in Chicago. Even if you don't move to Chicago, buy one anyway. You can't beat
the space, the views, and the amenities.
Fitness: Chicago has the best equipped gyms in the world from the
matchless East Bank Club, to the Soho House, to Gold's Gyms and many more. Enjoy miles of lakefront bike trails.
Chicago loves fitness.
Technology: Chicago has state of the art server centers and data
farms. Chicago is already a major fiber optic cable hub,
third in the USA, and is expanding fiber optic space. Chicago is home to the number one startup accelerator in the world. If you
move, you will be in the company of other startups that have moved from Silicon Valley to Chicago.
Large Offices: Chicago has great office space available with famous
architecture.
Culture: Chicago has lots of attractions: world class museums, theater, indoor and outdoor
symphonies, and a Chicago Council on Global Affairs that is better than New
York's since you can get a seat near world-class speakers. Most Chicagoans are
friendly polite people (city crime aside and besides, California has crime, too), because if we weren't, in
the winter, there would be no reason to go on living... other than close-by skiing, snowboarding and city-wide ice skating. When you're done, go to a bar with a fireplace for a hot chocolate or a hot
toddy.
Deals: Illinois economy isn't in great shape, but it isn't much worse
off than California, and the state of Illinois is already reneging on obligations like
solar panel reimbursements and cutting funding for non-tech
unprofitable business ventures. (h/t Second
City Cop) Illinois and Chicago want your tax revenues. Move to
Chicago, create jobs, and negotiate a tax deal for the day your business takes
off.
Follow Janet Tavakoli on
Twitter: www.twitter.com/JanetTavakoli
