WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- As e-commerce giant Amazon on Thursday canceled its plan to build a corporate campus in New York City after mounting opposition, the U.S. state of Virginia said the company's expansion plans in Arlington County remain.
"After speaking with an Amazon representative earlier today, we have confirmed that we are moving forward as planned with Amazon's upcoming headquarters in Arlington -- nothing has changed," Arlington County Board Chair Christian Dorsey said in a statement.
In an unexpected announcement, the Seattle-based company said it would not build a new headquarters in New York City due to opposition from "some state and local politicians."
The U.S. online retail powerhouse currently employs over 5,000 workers in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island in New York.
After a 14-month search for a second home, Amazon in November announced its plan to split its new headquarters between Long Island City in the New York City borough of Queens and Crystal City, Arlington.
Amazon's new headquarters plan has drawn backlash. Some worry about the rising cost of living and added traffic congestion, while others question the incentive packages the two states offered, especially the New York one, which was more generous.
Amazon said it does not intend to search for an alternative site for its second headquarters, but it will continue its plan in Northern Virginia and Nashville, where a new operation center is expected to be built.
