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Tesla hosted its Battery Day event in Palo Alto, California, on Tuesday.
Tesla announced that it expects to debut an affordable, autonomous electric vehicle in three years' time during its inaugural Battery Day event.
<p>"We're confident that long term we can design and manufacture a compelling $25,000 electric vehicle," CEO Elon Musk said to the drive-in audience of stockholders, many of whom honked upon hearing the news. "This has always been our dream from the beginning of the company."</p><div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b387423780b977d8a6eab6f7a572d819" id="55256"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-partner="rebelmouse" data-twitter-tweet-id="1308148212876812289"><div style="margin:1em 0">Important note about Tesla Battery Day unveil tomorrow. This affects long-term production, especially Semi, Cybertr… https://t.co/FO4xHXAs9Q</div> — Elon Musk (@Elon Musk)<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/statuses/1308148212876812289">1600721812.0</a></blockquote></div><p>This model will be enabled by a <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/22/21449238/tesla-electric-car-battery-tabless-cells-day-elon-musk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>new "tabless" battery</u></a> that the company announced it will begin producing in-house for its cost benefits and energy improvements. Musk and other Tesla executives said this new battery product will eventually halve the company's cost per kilowatt-hour, the unit of energy commonly used to measure the capacity of electric vehicle battery packs.<br/></p><p>Tesla did not say where this new vehicle will be produced. However, earlier in the Battery Day event, Musk touted the benefits of the company's new and forthcoming factories, including <a href="https://austonia.com/tesla-gigfactory-site-plan" target="_self"><u>Giga Texas</u></a>, which is currently under construction in Southeast Travis County.</p><p>"For Giga Texas in Austin, even if we had exactly the same (vehicle) classes in California, it would still be advantageous to do it there because it's roughly two-thirds of the way across the U.S.," he said. "So in terms of delivering cars to the central U.S. and the East coast, it's just faster, costs less, and it fundamentally improves our economics."</p><p>More on</p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/real-estate/tesla-austin-development" target="_self">What the Tesla factory means for mixed-use development already underway in Southeast Austin</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUxNzcxOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNTQ4Nzg5NH0.FdLQ0Wt_IqlxW7gYxTi6Ol4vb4RddazCylk0IIWylIM/img.jpg?width=980" id="178ca" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c500472f13fa561dad54b02fc28b5b15" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />What the Tesla factory means for mixed-use development already underway in Southeast Austin
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(Smnt/Wikimedia via Creative Commons)
Austin will soon be home to Tesla's fourth Gigafactory. The company's other factories are in Fremont, California; Sparks, Nevada (shown here); and Buffalo, New York.
A new site plan filed by electric carmaker Tesla provides another glimpse at the company's forthcoming $1.1 billion, 2,100-acre Gigafactory in southeast Travis County.
<p>Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said the plan outlines "a huge & spectacular facility," <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TexansForAbbott/posts/10164380574395088" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>in a Facebook post</u></a>. "Construction equipment (has) been hard at work for weeks at the site where Tesla will build electric vehicles & may cast an even larger vision," he wrote.</p><p>The <a href="https://abc.austintexas.gov/public-search-other?t_detail=1&t_selected_folderrsn=12520107&t_selected_propertyrsn=156696" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>document</u></a> lays out Tesla's plan for 280 acres of the site, including the construction of a massive vehicle manufacturing plant that, including parking space, will cover 7.9 million square feet. </p><p>But it remains unclear what the company plans to do with the remaining 1,820 acres.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe allowfullscreen="" aria-hidden="false" frameborder="0" height="450" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m14!1m8!1m3!1d91499.73240710868!2d-97.69132077972772!3d30.22567775834569!3m2!1i1024!2i768!4f13.1!3m3!1m2!1s0x8644b75ba3b47c31%3A0x729bb90d7d737f1!2sHarold%20Green%20Rd%2C%20Texas%2078725!5e1!3m2!1sen!2sus!4v1600449459810!5m2!1sen!2sus" style="border:0;" tabindex="0" width="600"></iframe></div><p>Some analysts <a href="https://www.statesman.com/business/20200808/austin-factory-key-tool-in-teslarsquos-race-against-auto-industry-giants" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>have speculated</u></a> that, in addition to producing <a href="https://austonia.com/future/tesla-cybertruck" target="_self"><u>the Cybertruck pickup</u></a> and Model Y SUV, the Austin factory may also manufacture batteries, <a href="https://www.tesla.com/gigafactory" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>similar to the one in Nevada</u></a>.</p><p>There has also been <a href="https://www.builtinaustin.com/2020/07/23/tesla-austin-gigafactory-confirmed-hiring" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>chatter</u></a> that Tesla may consider relocating its headquarters from California, where CEO Elon Musk has <a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/05/10/elon-musks-latest-fight-with-alameda-county-follows-familiar-path/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>clashed with county officials</u></a> over coronavirus orders, to Texas. </p><p>Musk announced Austin would be home to the next Gigafactory <a href="https://austonia.com/technology/tesla-coming-to-austin" target="_self"><u>in late July</u></a>, after a competitive selection process that saw <a href="https://austonia.com/technology/tesla-factory-austin-2646383822" target="_self"><u>Del Valle ISD</u></a> and <a href="https://austonia.com/business/austin-gigafactory" target="_self"><u>Travis County</u></a> offer the company tax rebates for building the factory in their jurisdictions.</p><p>In early August, construction supplier Martin Marietta disclosed it had sold the factory site—at the intersection of SH 130 and Harold Green Road, near the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport—to a Tesla entity for $97 million, <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2020/08/07/tesla-buys-far-east-austin-factory-site-for-97m.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>according to the Austin Business Journal</u></a>. </p><p>Prior to both announcements, however, the site was a hotbed of construction activity as Tesla began reclamation work, that <a href="https://austonia.com/future/tesla-site-austin" target="_self"><u>a city staffer said</u></a> "would be the first step in preparing the site for future development."<br/></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1154825324a0b2ca47e16b29247a0f0c" style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" type="lazy-iframe" scrolling="no" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5w46XttA_Yw?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">New Tesla Gigafactory site in Austin, Texas</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=5w46XttA_Yw&feature=emb_logo" target="_blank">(youtube)</a></small>
</p><p>The first substantial completion, or construction milestone, is scheduled for next spring with the full factory expected to be up and running by the end of 2021, a spokesperson for the Austin Chamber of Commerce confirmed to Austonia, .</p><p>As proposed, the factory will provide at least 5,000 jobs, not including the thousands of construction workers who will build the facility.</p><p>The company currently has <a href="https://www.tesla.com/careers/search#/?region=5&country=0&city=9&state=21" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>21 Austin-based job postings</u></a> for the Gigafactory, including a construction project manager and site architect, in addition to other postings for jobs such as <a href="https://www.tesla.com/careers/job/video-gamesengineerinfotainmentsoftware-68339" target="_blank">game developers</a>. </p><p>Some of Musk's other ventures are also looking to lay down roots in the Austin area, including his <a href="https://austonia.com/elon-musk-neuralink-austin">"Fitbit in your skull" startup</a>, Neuralink, which is hiring four positions locally. </p><p><br/></p><p><strong>More on Elon Musk and Austin:</strong></p>
<h2><a href="https://austonia.com/elon-musk-neuralink-austin" target="_self">Elon Musk's brain-connected computer startup Neuralink is hiring in Austin</a></h2>
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDQyNDYxMS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMDMwOTE5NX0.ldp73CtlDWh575NaN1BvXYUnbDRMdQinbF2JWffIrXg/img.png?width=980" id="27876" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="97bbdff04166127f69f5d656a7be4610" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
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(Shutterstock)
Elon Musk is looking to expand another one of his companies to Austin. His brain implant startup Neuralink is hiring four positions in the area, according to its website.
Add brain-implant tech and game development to the list of things billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk is bringing to Austin.
Neuralink, Musk's "Fitbit in your skull" startup, is hiring four positions based in Austin, including three engineering roles, according to the Neuralink website.
<p>Musk <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/we-spoke-to-2-neuroscientists-about-how-exciting-elon-musks-neuralink-really-is-2019-9" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>founded Neuralink in 2016</u></a> with the aim of developing a brain-machine interface system, which entails implanting a small gadget into a person's brain to track neural activity, similar to how activity trackers like Fitbit count steps, heart rate and other physical activities. </p><p>In a white paper published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research <a href="https://www.jmir.org/2019/10/e16194/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>last year</u></a>, Musk wrote that such a system "hold[s] promise for the restoration of sensory and motor function and the treatment of neurological disorders, but … [has] not yet been widely adopted." </p><p>The bulk of Neuralink's team is based in Fremont, California, where another Musk company—electric carmaker Tesla—has a factory. The Neuralink website currently has 17 job postings in the city, which is near Palo Alto. </p><p>But Musk has already signaled his affinity for Texas many times this year. </p><p>In July, Tesla announced a <a href="https://austonia.com/technology/tesla-coming-to-austin" target="_self"><u>$1.1 billion factory</u></a> in Southeast Travis County that will provide at least 5,000 jobs and produce its Cybertruck and its Model Y SUV. In exchange for meeting certain conditions, including a $15 an hour minimum wage, Tesla will receive significant tax rebates from <a href="https://austonia.com/business/austin-gigafactory" target="_self"><u>Travis County</u></a> and <a href="https://austonia.com/technology/tesla-factory-austin-2646383822" target="_self"><u>Del Valle ISD</u></a>. </p><p>The company is also planning to <a href="https://www.tesla.com/careers/job/video-gamesengineerinfotainmentsoftware-68339" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>hire game developers</u></a> based in Austin, suggesting that Tesla's presence may go beyond manufacturing. "Our goal is to set the bar for what video games in a car can be; much of this is uncharted territory having never been done before," the job listing reads. </p><p>Amber Allen—CEO and founder of the local immersive technology firm Double A Labs, whose clients include Alienware, Verizon and Warner Media—said she isn't surprised that Musk and Tesla are attracted to the area.</p><p>"Austin is a great hub for tech, design, and <a href="https://www.fi.edu/what-is-augmented-reality" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>augmented reality</u></a>," she said. </p><p>"Many of the technologies inside a car can be daunting, especially with the new modern look inside," Allen added. "Turning the [transportational] journey into a game would improve the user experience and help them know the true value of what the car can do for them, but in a fun, immersive environment."</p><p>Last month, another Musk outfit—<a href="https://austonia.com/spacex-job-ad-reveals-early-stages-of-texas-space-resort" target="_self"><u>SpaceX</u></a>—also posted a new job listing on its website for a resort development manager based out of its Boca Chica, Texas, launch facility. The employee would lead the creation of a Spaceport resort. </p>
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(Shutterstock)
Elon Musk is now the third richest man in the world.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is climbing the ranks of richest people in the world and can now claim the number three spot, which was previously held by Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
<p>Musk is now worth $115.4 billion, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-31/elon-musk-is-now-richer-than-mark-zuckerberg-on-tesla-surge?sref=KkPzpZvz" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a> reported Monday, while Zuckerberg is worth $110.8 billion. Just last month, Musk had become the <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-08-17/musk-gains-8-billion-to-become-world-s-fourth-richest-person?sref=KkPzpZvz" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">fourth richest person in the world</a>. </p><p>The increase in Musk's value comes after Tesla underwent a forward stock split, meaning Tesla's stock split so shareholders now own more stock, signaling a rise in value. </p><p>Musk is also growing his companies close to home, with the new <a href="https://austonia.com/future/tesla-site-austin" target="_blank">Tesla Gigafactory</a> underway in Southeast Travis County and SpaceX South Texas launch site. </p><p>Two weeks ago, a SpaceX job ad revealed a <a href="https://austonia.com/spacex-job-ad-reveals-early-stages-of-texas-space-resort" target="_blank">SpaceX resort</a> coming to South Texas. And most recently, a job ad for Austin's Tesla location shows is it hiring a <a href="https://www.tesla.com/careers/job/video-gamesengineerinfotainmentsoftware-68339" target="_blank">video game engineer</a>. Tesla first introduced video games to its cars in 2018. </p><p><strong>More on Tesla:</strong></p>
Here it comes: Elon Musk says 'stunning' $1.1 billion Tesla Gigafactory will be built in Austin area
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzYwMTM4MC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNzEyOTgzNH0.-E4WWghxE6M10Hj1oES8QRVk7Zb_wK9pb65yHWGGW6A/img.png?width=980" id="a2cf8" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1790720acf459362b7d553c3f561f3f6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
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(Video by Jordan Vonderhaar, Music courtesy of Bensound)
Native and adopted Austinites (those of us who have a few decades here under our belts) like to complain about how newcomers have changed the city, added to traffic woes, ratcheted up the cost of living and brought in shiny hotels and shopping centers.
<p>But the less crabby among us realize that while people can bring problems, they can also bring progress: Good paying jobs, tax money to build cool things, <a href="https://austinfc.com/" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">a major league soccer team.</a></p><p><a href="https://austinfc.com/" rel="dofollow" target="_blank"></a>So if you're out there thinking about moving to Austin—I mean, as apparently everyone is—let us give you some insights on your new <a href="http://do512.com" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">soon-to-be hometown.</a></p>
1. We're not just for weird people anymore
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzE3MDY0OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNTkyNTU3MH0.Lo_ronPVP18yFjIjCTDDNjf8fBmTWwDJ8bCGSuCTGy4/img.jpg?width=980" id="1128e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="544dcd854555a90dd079a60c61628b78" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Dreaming about becoming an Austinite? Here are 8 Things You'll Love About Us.(Karen Brooks Harper/Austonia)<p>Part of Austin's draw is its unique bars, restaurants and small businesses like <a target="_blank" href="http://www.wildaboutmusic.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">Wild About Music,</a> the <a target="_blank" href="https://continentalclub.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">Continental Club</a> and the <a target="_blank" href="https://austinmotel.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">Austin Motel.</a> But Austin has grown long past weird, bringing in hip national restaurant chains and <a target="_blank" href="https://domainofficesaustin.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">high-end shopping centers</a>, along with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.kvue.com/article/money/economy/boomtown-2040/cedar-park-bell-boulevard-development-approved/269-59e59225-43a7-47cd-ad7b-b235de420e9a" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">sprawling mixed-use developments in the suburbs</a> that cater to the tastes of newcomers and those used to living in more mainstream environments. Plenty for the Keep Austin Weird crowd, and more than enough for everyone else. </p>2. We are a town of foodies
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU3MzM1My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMTE0NjM2NX0.Cn8oH2Ulw4aLnypaoZQS1SLYBoowOC7y5GrkBIclNKY/img.jpg?width=980" id="0551e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="09cf93edd567554b3e3ca4b265ba1a5a" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />A server at Uchi on South Lamar delivers food to curbside customers.
(Karen Brooks Harper/Austonia)
<p>Austinites tend to be fit, healthy people, but <a target="_blank" href="https://do512.com/p/50-awesome-restaurants" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">we do love our food.</a> Our <a target="_blank" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyson_Cole" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">chefs</a> are international celebrities, and our choices range from homegrown Turkish wraps to world-famous sushi to <a href="https://austonia.com/via-313-pizzeria-of-the-year" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">award-winning pizza.</a> During the pandemic, Austin lost some iconic places, but other long-time establishments are pivoting, digging in and staying afloat. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.fondasanmiguel.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">Fonda San Miguel</a> is still serving some of the city's favorite interior Mexican food for take-out and dine in, and promises a return of its famous Sunday Hacienda Brunch soon. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.vespaioaustin.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">Vespaio,</a> one of the city's original South Congress eateries, is open for Italian dine-in and take-out. <a target="_blank" href="https://motherscafeaustin.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">Mother's Cafe,</a> serving vegan and vegetarian fare in Hyde Park since 1980, is also open for take-out and delivery. </p>3. We're a great city for bikes
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU3MzM2My9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0OTQ3Mzk5NH0.V6TLnEhfT8YIZK95guzu5UtNtFXhFGOnaN7bsUdPiN4/img.png?width=980" id="62210" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f1018018e1b3e2b5268a399a3f4e3314" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />(The City of Austin)
<p>We are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/america-most-bike-friendly-cities/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">a bike-friendly city</a> and we are getting more so every year. Over the years, the city has reduced auto lanes to make way for bike lanes, it has created bike-forward intersections to help traffic and cyclists flow together, and it has recently completed phase two of the <a target="_blank" href="https://data.austintexas.gov/stories/s/Walnut-Creek-Trail-System/v3dz-djp9/" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">Walnut Creek Trail System,</a> which will eventually connect north Austin to downtown via 20 miles of paved, peaceful, zero-traffic bike trails. So far, more than half the miles have been built and are open. The town is peppered with bike shops big and small and is headquarters for Lance Armstrong's Mellow Johnny's bike shop, training center and cafe downtown. All that is in addition to the Thursday Night Social Ride (currently on pause until the pandemic passes) that has drawn hundreds of cyclists of all levels to the streets of Austin every week for more than a decade.</p>4. We have unique neighborhoods to fit your personality
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQzODAzNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMTAyMzgyMn0.4mpVM3UPQ5dZEqdlan64WiUYy96w3Fl51gkJoVCWRho/img.jpg?width=980" id="122d2" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="cd7bf9553300259cbfe4f69f12b5a8ab" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Austin skyline " />Billion dollar company Rex Teams to join Austin's tech hub(Roschetzky Photography/Shutterstock)<p>Whether your taste and means suit a penthouse in a shiny downtown high-rise or a room in a hostel over a Sixth Street bar, a funky duplex near the university or a comfy retirement community in the suburbs, there's a neighborhood to fit your profile. For instance: Young, hip, trendy and looking to avoid downtown? The East Side is for you. Old-school with some cash and a hankering for the good ol' days? There's a home in South Austin with your name on it. Small school districts, decent shopping, affordable housing and still close enough to see the skyline? Head north. And if you want to be a neighbor to the stars, head out to moneyed homes of Lake Austin and move in next to Sandra Bullock or <a href="https://austonia.com/joe-rogan-austin" target="_blank">Joe Rogan.</a></p>5. We have a love affair with high tech
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQzNDIyMC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0MjMwNDM4MX0.w4Il7On8WmuGWYfy0tYC_Xzp0knKT5LZ2tenZkRpDLM/img.jpg?width=980" id="d13c7" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="22ce921f84f1d8a5eb4d18449ed26b31" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="tesla gigfactory" />Here it comes: Elon Musk says 'stunning' $1.1 billion Tesla Gigafactory will be built in Austin area(Mike Mareen/Adobe)<p>They don't call us <a href="https://www.builtinaustin.com/2018/04/24/silicon-hills-guide-austin-tech-scene" target="_blank">Silicon Hills</a> for nothing. Nicknamed for its place in the Hill Country and its status as the next Silicon Valley, Austin is one of the <a href="https://marker.medium.com/austin-was-destined-to-replace-silicon-valley-then-the-pandemic-hit-6d5f5a332e04" target="_blank">most attractive place</a>s for the world's biggest tech companies, and they keep on coming. Even as Austinites shake off the vestiges of PTSD in the wake of the devastating tech bust of the early 2000s, the city still loves its tech, welcoming wave after wave of industry barons who want to relocate, build and live here. The most recent, of course, is Elon Musk, whose <a href="https://austonia.com/future/tesla-site-austin" target="_blank">Tesla factory in Southeast Austin</a> will be home to the new Cybertruck.</p>6. We offer plenty of star-gazing
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzAzMDMwMC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0OTM4OTIwNX0.ONwTRuf6g0g4894-2w61jFY99W-ryTuz82tUcz82ftI/img.png?width=980" id="01483" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bd89c2e650a76d2acf4b7014903e3bf6" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Matthew McConaughey offers himself and UT football to raise funds for coronavirus recovery(Fanatics)
<p>In case you thought Beverly Hills or NYC had the corner on celebrity sightings, you should know Austin is absolutely crawling with famous people. Pretty much year-round—but particularly during our festivals—you really can't swing a stick without seeing Meg Ryan hanging out with Ben Harper at Amy's Ice Cream or Doug Benson wandering around Sixth Street or Bill Murray crashing house parties or <a target="_self" href="https://austonia.com/anthony-michael-hall-austin-hotel" rel="dofollow">Anthony Michael Hall behaving badly</a> in a hotel swimming pool. Celebrities swing in and out of this town in part because Austinites are so used to seeing them that they tend to get left alone to enjoy their lives. But we also have some who actually eschew the million-dollar mansions in the Hollywood Hills and instead buy half-million bungalows in the city's hip neighborhoods or on the shores of Lake Austin. <a target="_blank" href="https://variety.com/2020/dirt/actors/ten-celebrities-that-call-austin-home-1234607804/" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow">Variety Magazine recently rounded up the big ones,</a> but let us highlight a few: Elijah Wood, Matthew McConaughey, Dan Rather, and most recently, <a target="_self" href="https://austonia.com/joe-rogan-austin" rel="dofollow">Joe Rogan.</a><a href="https://austonia.com/joe-rogan-austin" target="_blank"></a></p>7. We're no place for introverts
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzIxOTQ0OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MjI5ODQ2NH0.AhZgQXkOhRX0U6fjfb2yO2wBX03K3D4YvWtwMyA64v4/img.jpg?width=980" id="5d147" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="170458dcf645f1c8c22bca3dfcec3e61" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Blues on the Green festivals concerts outdoor events" />Travis County bans outdoor gatherings of more than 100 people, with exceptions (ACL Radio via city of Austin)<p>Get used to crowds—at least, when they're legal again. Right now, the festivals are off due to COVID-19. But when they're on, IT. IS. ON. From the gigantic <a href="http://www.sxsw.com" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">South by Southwest</a> to the dual-weekend <a href="http://aclfestival.com" target="_blank" rel="dofollow">Austin City Limits</a> show, the iconic Eeyore's Birthday (and attendant drum circle), the Kite Festival on the shores of Lady Bird Lake and the Blues on the Green free concerts in Zilker Park, not a month goes by without some kind of festival or event for Austinites to come together and enjoy their beautiful city with their neighbors. To illustrate the pervasiveness of the festival culture in Austin: When the coronavirus made large gatherings impossible, more than <a href="https://austonia.com/lifestyle/austin-festivals-canceled" target="_blank">100 festivals had to be canceled.</a> </p>8. We Are still the Live Music Capital of the World—even without live music
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjkzNTEyMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNzAzODQxM30.qEYKGkQoAmbDEakxTAOQMQXjWo9GtqdzBQyxMue5WNU/img.jpg?width=980" id="f9a39" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="bfcb628d5224394d0866ef3c4a7543fd" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Local singer-songwriter Bonnie Whitmore plays live on Facebook.
<p>Home to an estimated 8,000 musicians and performers, the Live Music Capital of the World feels quieter with all of its nightclubs and venues shut down. But the city is running financial assistance programs to keep its musicians in town and afloat, and has become part of a national pilot program for re-opening its venues safely in the face of the pandemic, which has kept them largely shuttered for six months. Meanwhile, musicians—creative innovators that they are—have taken their shows online for <a href="https://austonia.com/11-austin-online-live-music-performances" target="_blank">a robust virtual music scene</a> that delivers us a satisfying piece of Austin's musical soul while we wait for the stage lights to come back on.</p>From Your Site Articles
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(Shutterstock)
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.
<p>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 <a href="https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/4816599002?gh_jid=4816599002" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow" target="_blank">Resort Development Manager</a> to conduct a large construction project. The position entails leading the creation of a Spaceport resort, "from inception to completion." </p><p>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. </p><p>SpaceX has yet to reveal if the resort is underway, but based on the job description the project is in the early stages.</p><p>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.</p><p>The location is also hiring a <a href="https://boards.greenhouse.io/spacex/jobs/4778508002?gh_jid=4778508002" rel="noopener noreferrer dofollow" target="_blank">Spaceport Development Specialist</a> to, "assist in all aspects of project implementation." </p><p>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. <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-09-09/elon-musk-making-enemies-fast-in-town-hosting-space-x-launches?sref=aPhxMSeh" rel="dofollow" target="_blank">Some residents are holding out</a>, stating the appraised value does not reflect the market prices of their properties. </p><p>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.</p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p> 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.</p><p>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.</p>
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New Tesla Gigafactory site in Austin, Texas
Developer Doug Launius said he knew 10 years ago that Southeast Austin was a place to invest: it's close to downtown and the airport; the land is relatively affordable; it is served by three major roadways—SH 71, SH 130 and FM 973; and the rolling hills are beautiful.
<p>
"It really is much closer [to Central Austin] than most people think," said Launius, principal of the Southeast Austin-focused development firm Marketplace Real Estate.
</p><p>
Marketplace owns some 900 acres in the area, including the site of a forthcoming 7-million-square-foot mixed-use development called Velocity, which is about a mile away from the site of Tesla's recently announced $1.1 billion Gigafactory.
</p><p>Launius welcomes its arrival, which a local industry expert said will speed development—and the growth of property value—in the area. </p><p>"Tesla opening their factory … is going to accelerate the growth in the area and help us bring the services, the grocery stores, and all the things that we want to do to the area more quickly," he said.<br/></p><p>
<strong>Upcoming development</strong></p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><iframe height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1PISeNJuHfzov-ZH8hlGmA8Ws-AJdsUZM" width="640"></iframe></div><p><em>(The above map shows the approximate sites of the Austin Green (north) and Velocity (south) developments. The blue marker is near the entrance to the Tesla site.)</em><br/></p><p>
The area southeast of Austin began developing over the last five to seven years for a number of reasons, including rising property costs within the city limits and the construction of SH 130, which improved mobility in the area, said Eldon Rude, principal of the local consulting firm 360 Real Estate Analytics.</p><p>"A lot of it has to do with its proximity to Austin, relative to some other suburban areas, and the ability to buy land, develop and build homes that are affordable, if you will, for first-time and first move-up homebuyers," he said.</p><p>This growth includes Velocity, which plans to build 2,683 units of multifamily housing, 2.9 million square feet of office space and 42 acres of parks; H-E-B, which bought 16 acres in the development <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2019/11/14/huge-changes-on-east-austins-horizon.html" target="_blank"><u>in 2016</u></a>; and Austin Community College, which owns 124 acres adjacent to the development and plans to build <a href="https://www.statesman.com/business/20200615/developers-expanding-plan-for-southeast-austin-project" target="_blank"><u>a regional workforce center.</u></a></p><p>
There is also the Austin Green development, from the local development firm GroundWork, which began the process of securing City Council approval for the 2,100-acre project <a href="https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2020/01/24/austin-green-development-takes-first-step-forward.html" target="_blank">earlier this year</a>. As proposed, it would include 12,000 residential units as well as retail, office, industrial, medical and park space—and now, with Elon Musk's announcement last week, the Tesla factory.</p><p><strong><span></span>The Tesla effect</strong>
</p><p>
Rude expects the factory to further development in the area, as a new workforce—first the construction workers who build the factory and then the employees who work there—drives up demand for housing and other services. Tesla's suppliers may also move to the region, compounding the effect.
</p><p>
This will likely affect the area's affordability, Rude said, and prompt more investment, such as an expansion of DVISD and the arrival of big-box stores.
</p><p>
For Launius, Tesla's arrival is proof of the area's appeal. "We say it's like throwing gas on the fire. The fire was already burning out there pretty strong, and then Tesla comes [and] announces," he said. "I think it's only going to be beneficial for Southeast Austin and Del Valle."
</p>
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New Tesla Gigafactory site in Austin, Texas
(Video by Steven Joyner/Austonia)
Arrive at the site in Southeast Travis County where Tesla just announced it will be building a $1.1 billion Gigafactory, and you'll find 18-wheeler trucks running in and out of the property. See the area from above, and it's a flurry of activity.
<p>Though the news is less than a week old, CEO Elon Musk said during<a href="https://austonia.com/technology/tesla-coming-to-austin" target="_blank"> the call where he confirmed that the company</a> had chosen Austin that work was already underway.</p><p>The $1.1 billion factory is expected to be producing the Tesla <a href="https://austonia.com/future/tesla-cybertruck" target="_self">Cybertruck</a> and Model Y by late 2021.</p><p>There are still a few more steps for the company—Tesla will need city and county approvals as further development gets underway—but a city staffer said July 16 that the company is allowed under existing permits to begin reclamation work, which "would be the first step in preparing the site for future development."</p>
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