SpaceX files to build 520K-square-foot facility in Bastrop County "The size of what Elon Musk's Space Exploration Technologies Corp. plans in Bastrop County, east of Austin, is coming into focus — and it appears to be massive. The company wants to construct a 521,521-square-foot 'shell building,' according to an Aug. 31 filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. An estimated project cost of $43 million was given, along with an expected completion date of July 2023." (Justin Sayers and Cody Baird, Austin Business Journal)
Two more Texas towns are considering leaving Capital Metro "Two more Austin suburbs – Lago Vista and Manor – have decided to hold an election this November to determine whether to pull out of their partnerships with the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority. These elections follow Leander’s vote in May, where residents ultimately decided to stay with the transit organization." (Samuel Stark, Austin Monitor)
Applied Materials pulls bid for tax breaks for possible $2 billion Austin-area facility "Plenty of high-profile corporations are expanding in the Austin area or have said they're considering doing so, but one might be cooling on the idea. Applied Materials has withdrawn its application for tax breaks from the Hutto school district for what was billed earlier this year as a possible $2 billion research and development facility in the Williamson County town." (Bob Sechler, Austin Business Journal)
Mobile home park residents facing eviction in South Austin can stay a bit longer, judge rules "Roughly a dozen families living at a mobile home park in South Austin who received 60-day notices to leave will be able to stay for the time being after a Travis County judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday." (Audrey McGlinchy, KUT 90.5)
Austin-San Antonio is the ‘next great U.S. metroplex,’ says Mayor Adler in final address "Look out, Dallas-Fort Worth. Austin Mayor Steve Adler wants Austin-San Antonio to become the 'next great U.S. metroplex.' Experts believe we’re already well on our way toward that status." (John Egan, CultureMap Austin)
Data: Austin pedestrians dying at a higher rates in traffic than drivers "Pedestrians in Austin are dying at a higher rate in city traffic than motor vehicle drivers so far in 2022, with more than 40% of the year's 71 traffic deaths made up of pedestrians alone, according to reporting by Austin police. By the end of August, police had responded to 29 crashes that resulted in pedestrian deaths, with five of those fatalities occurring in August." (Heather Osbourne, Austin American-Statesman)
Public workers are being priced out of the city. Affordable housing can’t help many of them. "As wages for public sector workers fail to keep pace with housing prices, some city employees have turned to income-restricted housing for relief. But because finding an affordable home and meeting the qualifications isn’t always easy, many workers are forced to pay unaffordable market-rate rents or leave the city entirely." (Jonathan Lee, Austin Monitor)
Parkland fees still being debated at Austin City Hall "The debate over whether or not Austin will require commercial developers to pay fees to support public parks will continue after Mayor Steve Adler pulled the item from City Council's Sept. 1 consent agenda. The mayor pulled three agenda items — involving commercial as well as existing residential parkland dedication fees, plus a public comment period — for additional changes and corrections." (Mike Christen, Austin Business Journal)
