We don't know if Dallas will beat out every city angling to host the next Amazon headquarters, but it can run circles around the Dallas of 2001.

That progress is worth noting, because it shows how far Dallas has come and where it’s headed. It's a trajectory that should help sell Dallas, especially to a company making a big bet on the future.

Sixteen years ago, this region was trying to land another economic prize from Seattle. The Boeing Co. chose downtown Chicago for its corporate headquarters, passing on Dallas and Denver in a high-profile competition.

Chicago offered more than $60 million in incentives, but it prevailed mainly because its downtown was so vibrant and energetic while Dallas’ central business district went nearly dark after 5 p.m.

“I'm very envious of Chicago’s downtown,” former Mayor Ron Kirk conceded at the time.

A bigger, better trophy is on the line with Amazon's HQ2, and it has drawn interest from more than 100 communities. The $5 billion project is expected to bring 50,000 jobs eventually, and the e-commerce giant has published a wish list of attributes.

The Dallas-Fort Worth area checks most of the boxes. It has a large workforce with plenty of tech workers and business professionals. It has great air travel options and a stable, pro-business climate. It has a diverse population, a reasonable cost of living and strong record of attracting talent.

We're especially pleased that at least two potential sites involve properties in southern Dallas, an underdeveloped region that could benefit enormously from the adrenaline shot Amazon would provide.

But some of Dallas’ weaker traits will be in the spotlight. Amazon puts a priority on public plazas, green spaces and walkability. It asks about sidewalks, bike lanes, trams, light rail and other creative ways to connect people.

Thanks to a downtown revival, Dallas has more to offer on those fronts. Residents can live, work and play in the city, although still not as easily as in some metros.

Last year, almost 11,000 people lived in downtown, up from a microscopic 200 in the late 1990s. A booming Arts District has brought more culture and world-class venues. Klyde Warren Park bridged downtown and Uptown and inspired more green spaces.

Amazon wants transit options, and DART's light rail network has grown to become the nation's longest. Transit-oriented projects have emerged in Richardson, Plano, Carrollton, Irving and Dallas, with more rail coming to downtown and the northern cities.

Will all this be enough to win over Amazon?

It would be great validation and a big lift for the economy. But falling short wouldn’t be the gut punch of 2001. By Amazon’s criteria, Dallas is growing the right way.

How far we’ve come

Some improvements since Boeing rejected Dallas in 2001:

•Downtown Dallas has attracted 11,000 residents, up from 200 in the 1990s. Another 11,000 residential units are finished or in the works.

•Klyde Warren Park, a 5-acre green space built atop a highway, has become one of Dallas' most popular gathering spots. Public and private funds paid for it.

•The Victory project turned a polluted brownfield into a teeming area of high-rise condos, office buildings and entertainment. Over $1.6 billion has been invested.

•The Dallas Arts District added the Winspear, Wyly, Perot and other venues. Citywide, the annual economic impact of the arts approaches $1 billion.

•Love Field was freed to fly anywhere, triggering new competition in air travel and big upgrades at Love and DFW Airport. Both airports have frequent nonstop flights to Seattle, San Francisco, New York and Washington, connections that Amazon needs.

•Local universities awarded over 23,500 bachelor's degrees last year, more than double the total in 2000. Many were in engineering and computer science, majors that Amazon covets.

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