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The construction of the Boca Chica, Texas SpaceX launch site in 2019.
Elon Musk continues to reach for the stars after deciding to bring Tesla to Austin with his newest endeavor that could bring a SpaceX resort to Texas.
The SpaceX Launch Facility in Boca Chica, Texas—a small village with 40 houses 20 miles east of Brownsville, Texas—posted a new job listing on its website, seeking a Resort Development Manager to conduct a large construction project. The position entails leading the creation of a Spaceport resort, "from inception to completion."
This once in a lifetime job opportunity requires a bachelor's degree and five plus years of experience in construction project management, according to the job listing. The resort development manager will oversee developing a high end, luxury tourist space resort for the public.
SpaceX has yet to reveal if the resort is underway, but based on the job description the project is in the early stages.
The Boca Chica SpaceX location has already brought growth to the small town, developing it into "a 21st century Spaceport." It has provided hundreds of jobs for the area and is now promising even more with the creation of a Space City.
The location is also hiring a Spaceport Development Specialist to, "assist in all aspects of project implementation."
SpaceX has been buying land across Boca Chica, offering up to three times the appraised market value for current houses. However, growing pains are evident. Some residents are holding out, stating the appraised value does not reflect the market prices of their properties.
The residents have mixed reactions to the recent development in Boca Chica due to the many requirements it places on their shoulders. Those who choose to stay are expected to register with the county, wear badges and sometimes be evacuated during launch days which occur once a month.
The launch site has had various tests and projects at this location. Its most recent success is the new Starship prototype, SN5, performing a 40 second "hop," before returning to the ground.
SpaceX, a once young startup by Musk, is setting new space travel standards and rules. It has successfully launched and landed the U.S.'s first crewed mission for NASA in nine years.
Besides providing job opportunities in Boca Chica, Elon Musk has also helped Texans out closer to home. Tesla is currently underway with constructing a $1.1 billion Gigafactory in Southeast Austin.
While SpaceX is focusing on the sky, Tesla is more grounded. It is projected to supply 5,000 jobs in Austin where it will develop the new Cybertruck and Model Y, a midsize SUV.
It turns out Texas has been a seemingly perfect fit for Elon Musk's projects and developments. With the abundance of job supply and economic income, the forecast in Texas offers a limitless sky, no overcast in sight.
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Popular
(Project Connect)
Designs for stations along Project Connect’s Blue Line were presented this week, giving a detailed look at what part of the rail system extending from downtown to the airport could look like.
The planned stations that have gotten the latest focus include Waterfront, Travis Heights and Lakeshore stations past Lady Bird Lake.
At the Waterfront station, the preliminary design aims to prevent visual obstructions and save on costs. This is accomplished by a transit guideway that will lower from the bridge to a level station.
Heading onto East Riverside Drive, the light rail faces a curve requiring a slow down to about 10 miles per hour.
The Travis Heights station could involve relocating a pedestrian crosswalk zone at Alameda Drive to Blunn Creek. Since light rails can't effectively operate on a steep grade, this allows the transit guideway to avoid that.
From there, the rail will extend to the Norwood Park area, and though it will reach along the right-of-way zone, the park will be able to remain open.
A view of the Blue Line by Lady Bird Lake. (Project Connect)
The line involves some coordination with the Texas Department of Transportation. That's because the department is working on an intersection that will have to be built before the phasing of the section of the Blue Line involving an I-35 crossing.
When it comes to the safety of cyclists and walkers, design ideas include a pedestrian hybrid beacon by East Bouldin Creek that would provide a protected signal to cross. And for the intersection TxDOT is carrying out, Project Connect is working with them on pedestrian access across the intersection. It could involve shared use paths along the street and crossings beneath it.
This summer, the public can expect 30% of design and cost estimates to be released. Though the project was $7.1 billion when voters approved it in November 2020, the latest estimates factoring in inflation and supply chain constraints show it could ultimately be upwards of $10 billion.
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(Amazon/Facebook)
Plans for an Amazon warehouse in Round Rock—a $250 million project slated to be a large distribution center—are on hold.
This comes just after the tech giant had its worst financial quarter in seven years.
The details:
- Late last year, it announced an expansion at the Domain adding 2,000 more corporate and tech jobs.
- Amazon still owns the site in Round Rock. Plans for it are unclear.
- Early this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon is aiming to scrap warehouse space as it faces a slowdown in its e-commerce operations.
Part of that effort involves exploring the possibility of ending or renegotiating leases with outside warehouse owners. Another aspect is a plan to sublease warehouse space.
“It allows us to relieve the financial obligations associated with an existing building that no longer meets our needs,” an Amazon spokeswoman told the Wall Street Journal. “Subleasing is something many established corporations do to help manage their real estate portfolio.”
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