AUSTIN | Economic Development - Page 23

The ATX · #**441** Posted **May 17, 2020, 7:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbancore

Wait, is this saying they just bought a spot in Jarell and are already under construction in Hutto? So they plan 2 spots?

I need things spelled out for me....i'm dum.

It's Hutto and Taylor. Somebody apparently not familiar with Austin just picked Austin and Jarrell as points that Hutto and Taylor fall in between. It's an awkward reference, but somewhat correct from a North/South perspective.

paul78701 · #**442** Posted **May 17, 2020, 7:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by BG918

It’s an auto manufacturing plant. Tesla has plants in both Reno and Buffalo, not exactly tech hubs either. It would make sense to have the R&D in Austin for that reason but the actual manufacturing is better suited for Tulsa where there is well trained workforce due to the large cluster of aerospace and O&G manufacturing companies located there, along with better access to the rest of the country via highways, rail and river transport.

I know it's a manufacturing plant. I didn't say that they don't or won't put plants in non-tech locations. I was just merely pointing out that there are more potential synergies with a location in a tech savvy area. They are already doing "autopilot" development in Austin. There is a benefit to having a plant near the people who are working on that project.

It's not a mere coincidence that they have a major plant in Silicon Valley within spitting distance of their primary tech workforce. As expensive as Silicon Valley is, nobody in their right mind would purposely put a plant there without a really good reason.

JoninATX · #**443** Posted **May 17, 2020, 7:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbancore

Wait, is this saying they just bought a spot in Jarell and are already under construction in Hutto? So they plan 2 spots?

I need things spelled out for me....i'm dum.

He's saying that a location between Austin and Jarrell has been selected.

The ATX · #**444** Posted **May 17, 2020, 8:59 PM**

That article/video makes a good case for the U/C Hutto/Taylor site being for Tesla. But the time frame and site size also fits with the multi-story 3.5m-4M Sq. Ft. Amazon warehouse planned for WilCo. Does anyone have more info on the Amazon project?

We vs us · #**445** Posted **May 17, 2020, 9:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

That article/video makes a good case for the U/C Hutto/Taylor site being for Tesla. But the time frame and site size also fits with the multi-story 3.5m-4M Sq. Ft. Amazon warehouse planned for WilCo. Does anyone have more info on the Amazon project?

Wasn't that planned farther south in Plugerville?

The ATX · #**446** Posted **May 17, 2020, 9:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by We vs us

Wasn't that planned farther south in Plugerville?

Yeah, I did a little Googling after I posted that. Here's the Amazon location:

https://www.kxan.com/news/business/p...bution-center/

We vs us · #**447** Posted **May 17, 2020, 9:36 PM**

That's what I was remembering. I think there's more planned for that specific area -- maybe surrounding the Amazon site, and on either side of 130?

There's a lot going on in that part of Pflug, that's for sure.

The ATX · #**448** Posted **May 17, 2020, 9:51 PM**

Here are photos of the site from the video. If it's not Tesla, it's still a big project that requires construction of rail lines.

https://www.torquenews.com/1/rare-pi...-possible-site

undergroundman · #**449** Posted **May 17, 2020, 10:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by freerover

Sure, it'll help to some degree.

This is the site that I'm guessing Tesla is looking at. Both UP and BNSF railroads. 1,480 acres, with approximately 98% of the property buildable and the City of Hutto is prepared to expedite entitlements, permitting and inspections and is able to meet tight project deadlines.

It appears that it's the same site that freerover speculated about a couple weeks ago. I'm just surprised that they would build literally on the border of a federal opportunity zone and leave the money on the table. Hutto must have given them some pretty sweet incentives to make up for it.

undergroundman · #**450** Posted **May 17, 2020, 10:30 PM**

Just watched the video more carefully and saw that even though the tract that freerover posted is included in the video, the artist renderings in the video shows that the build site is actually to the east side of FM 3349, which is indeed within the federal opportunity zone.

The ATX · #**451** Posted **May 17, 2020, 11:02 PM**

The construction photos were for a rail park outside of Taylor that was already U/C. But it's being built in case any project (like a Tesla factory, for example) needed a site in the area. It's scheduled to open this Fall. If Elon can throw up his giant warehouse by then, he'll meet his end of year deadline for producing Model Ys.

https://taylor.rcrrailco.com/

JoninATX · #**452** Posted **May 17, 2020, 11:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

The construction photos were for a rail park outside of Taylor that was already U/C. But it's being built in case any project (like a Tesla factory, for example) needed a site in the area. It's scheduled to open this Fall. If Elon can throw up his giant warehouse by then, he'll meet his end of year deadline for producing Model Ys.

https://taylor.rcrrailco.com/

All signs point to the site. I would make since to start construction before announcement if they plan to open before years end. There's no way they would accomplish their goal to have it up and running if they broke broke this month.

hookem · #**453** Posted **May 18, 2020, 1:02 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoninATX

All signs point to the site. I would make since to start construction before announcement if they plan to open before years end. There's no way they would accomplish their goal to have it up and running if they broke broke this month.

I wonder if Tesla were still in negotiation but wanted to keep things moving fast, would they go ahead and build some of the base infrastructure/rail connection for a few sites? Then whichever they don’t use, they can flip to another industrial customer?

Geographer · #**454** Posted **May 18, 2020, 10:15 AM**

I have an off-topic question: what prevents wooden railway ties from rotting over time?

H2O · #**455** Posted **May 18, 2020, 1:22 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geographer

I have an off-topic question: what prevents wooden railway ties from rotting over time?

Creosote

the Genral · #**456** Posted **May 18, 2020, 1:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geographer

I have an off-topic question: what prevents wooden railway ties from rotting over time?

they are treated with creosote, coal tar.

AusTxDevelopment · #**457** Posted **May 18, 2020, 6:09 PM**

I heard from a landowner friend of mine that Tesla is looking at two sites in the Austin area. The previously mentioned Hutto site, and a portion of this intermodal rail site in San Marcos. https://www.virtualbx.com/constructi...ght-rail-park/

freerover · #**458** Posted **May 18, 2020, 6:12 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by AusTxDevelopment

I heard from a landowner friend of mine that Tesla is looking at two sites in the Austin area. The previously mentioned Hutto site, and a portion of this intermodal rail site in San Marcos. https://www.virtualbx.com/constructi...ght-rail-park/

So Hays county and Williamson County can compete against one another maybe.

StoOgE · #**459** Posted **May 18, 2020, 7:44 PM**

San Marcos isn't a super desirable place to recruit to but costs would be much lower

(Don't @ me I'm from the area)

urbancore · #**460** Posted **May 18, 2020, 8:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StoOgE

San Marcos isn't a super desirable place to recruit to but costs would be much lower

(Don't @ me I'm from the area)

Yeah, I never understood the appeal. Not a fan.