Back in Mountain View, California, every major tech company seems to be struggling to find a piece of land where they could possibly expand or move their headquarters to. At the moment, Google and LinkedIn, two of the biggest internet-based companies are in a close contend with each other for who gets a 2.2 million square feet area (this is all the space that Mountain View’s city council has to allocate) in North Bayshore, in which they intend to begin building a new part for their campus. Along with these two companies, come another five, all of which, have announced their plans for a headquarters expansion. The problem with this is that even if the area seems big enough for all, when adding up only Google’s and LinkedIn’s plans, the companies need a little over 5.8 million square feet for their future expansions.
Google and LinkedIn are the two companies that show the most possibilities of getting one of the designated areas in Mountain View, but still, things aren’t looking so bright for any of the two. The Mountain View city staff advised Google to put the development of two buildings, from the four that the company had planned to include in its new innovative campus, on hold; The areas in which said buildings could have been constructed, are currently undergoing studies to possibly be designated as housing sites. Studies will come out until September of this same year. Both companies cannot get one of the designated spaces and without a doubt, given its increased power, Google could overbid LinkedIn; But in this case, it is not about power. The company to get one of the designated spaces in the North Bayshore area is up to the city of Mountain View.
Google has been for a long time, a supporter for housing sites in North Bayshore; This support, could be what interferes with Google’s expansion plans, as part of the area that was contemplated by the company was placed on the housing list. LinkedIn on the other hand might take advantage of Google’s own mistake of wanting housing sites near the area. The zone in which LinkedIn plans on expanding to, has not been touched by housing plans, after claiming the toxicity of its location. Only after the city council takes a decision, the winner of this war over land will be known; even if everything points at a LinkedIn’s victory.