AUSTIN | Economic Development

[ATX2030]

Auctions delayed for potential Samsung factory sites in Arizona

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...postponed.html

The Arizona State Land Department auctions that were to be held April 21 for two sites that had been identified as potential landing spots for Samsung's $17 billion plant were postponed to May 19 after no bidders bid on the land at either auction.

[We vs us]

So . . . does that mean that Samsung has declined to thrown their hat in the ring for the Phoenix land? Am I interpreting that correctly?

[Armybrat]

Lots of open land in the 130 corridor available.

[ATX2030]

67 acres available for development near Austin airport

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...portunity.html

The offering comes from the guys at Marketplace Real Estate Group, who have over the years amassed hundreds of acres in the Southeast Austin/Dell Valle area. They're also building a huge mixed-use development nearby called Velocity, which could have 7 million square feet of apartments, offices and more.

[ATX2030]

Posted this in the COTA thread but also pertains to Econ. Dev.

Heard an advert this morning on the radio about possible legislation to allow 4 total Texas casinos, one each in DFW, Houston, S.A and ATX. Somewhere near COTA would work for ATX possibly? Would be a billion dollar investment.

https://www.texastribune.org/2021/03...ports-betting/

"The proposals would create special casino licenses for four "destination resorts" in the state's four largest metropolitan areas: Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio and Austin. At the same time, it would establish a Texas Gaming Commission to regulate the casinos, tax table games and slot machines and separately legalize sports betting."

...."The legislation is consistent with the vision that Las Vegas Sands has laid out for casinos in Texas: a limited number of licenses for mixed-use "destination resorts" in the state's biggest population centers, with a high minimum investment intended to attract only the best operators. To that end, the legislation calls for a land and development investment of at least $2 billion in Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston, as well as $1 billion for San Antonio and Austin."

[JoninATX]

Is San Jose still the 10th largest U.S. city?

The heart of Silicon Valley might have lost its claim to fame as the 10th largest city in the nation.

During a Charter Review Commission meeting Monday night, San Jose State University retired political science professor Terry Christensen made a statement that raised eyebrows during his presentation: the city of Austin, Texas surpassed San Jose in population and became the 10th largest city in the U.S.

The statement quickly made rounds on Twitter after former Councilmember Lan Diep, who now serves on the commission, posted about it.

https://sanjosespotlight.com/is-san-...gest-u-s-city/

I read this interesting article.

[The ATX]

Silicon Valley based chip company Skyworks bought about half of Silicon Labs and is looking for a building to set up shop in Austin. They will build a facility if they cannot find one that fits their needs. Their new Austin site will basically be an R&D facility. This could be a big jobs gain down the road. The new facility will be created and staffed by the Silicon labs employees moving to Skyworks, and Skyworks will be making big investments for future growth in Austin.

[ahealy]

Just a matter of time before Silicon Labs is razed for mega talls

[We vs us]

Originally Posted by ahealy

Just a matter of time before Silicon Labs is razed for mega talls

I totally hope that happens . . . but wouldn't an R&D facility want to locate out on Parmer or 130 or . . . anywhere where the footprint can be large and relatively cheap?

[AusTxDevelopment]

Originally Posted by The ATX

Silicon Valley based chip company Skyworks bought about half of Silicon Labs and is looking for a building to set up shop in Austin. They will build a facility if they cannot find one that fits their needs. Their new Austin site will basically be an R&D facility. This could be a big jobs gain down the road. The new facility will be created and staffed by the Silicon labs employees moving to Skyworks, and Skyworks will be making big investments for future growth in Austin.

I guarantee they'll be looking outside of the city limits so they don't have to deal with Austin's Development Department. Tesla did it, Apple did it with their Parmer campus, Amazon did it with their big distro center in Pflugerville. There are plenty of incentives to be had from the counties and state - why go through all the brain damage and delays with the City of Austin if you don't have to. This is developers perspective, of course.

Speaking of Amazon, I heard a rumor that they are the buyer of the 184 acre Robinson Ranch land site on the north side of 45 that JLL had listed for sale. That was one of the HQ2 sites originally. The biz journal mentioned it in their cover story this week and says no buyer has been selected. But the rumor is they have selected a buyer and it's Amazon, however it has not closed yet. So, HQ3 or 3.5? I guess we'll see. From the biz journal:

The owners of Robinson Ranch — a roughly 7,000-acre expanse surrounded by busy roads and residential and commercial development — will continue to play a prominent role in the evolution of North Austin. Another piece of the ranch could soon be developed: the family last year put roughly 190 acres up for grabs north of the State Highway 45 toll road.

Richard Suttle, a land use attorney with Armbrust & Brown PLLC who has represented the Robinsons for years, said no deals have been reached yet but that there has been "a lot of interest" in the parcel. More than 6,000 acres of the ranch were zoned in 2004 for planned unit development, meaning they could support downtown-like density and multiple towers. To help put the size of the ranch into perspective, Suttle mentioned it could theoretically host "multiple Domains" and "that would not even put a dent in the available land out there."

Source: https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...-projects.html

[We vs us]

Excellent rumor!

Here's the slice, looking southwest.



EDIT: if Amazon wants to HQ3 that strip of land, the north side housing situation is going to get astronomically worse. I can't even imagine it, frankly.

[wwmiv]

Originally Posted by We vs us

Excellent rumor!

Here's the slice, looking southwest.



EDIT: if Amazon wants to HQ3 that strip of land, the north side housing situation is going to get astronomically worse. I can't even imagine it, frankly.

It is on a potential commuter rail line and could reinvigorate the Austin half of the Lone Star Rail efforts.

[drummer]

....whomever would like to utilize Robinson Ranch in a major way, please wait until I buy a house this year or next year. K thanks.

[ATX2030]

https://english.etnews.com/20210426200003

....."A high-ranking official from the semiconductor industry said that Tesla is strongly asking Samsung to expand the Austin fab in order to strengthen the partnership between the two companies."

[We vs us]

This also kind of seals it:

Tesla’s FSD (full self-driving) chips are manufactured through Samsung Electronics’ foundry fab in Austin, Texas. In 2019, CEO Elon Musk of Tesla announced that Samsung Electronics is making Tesla’s FSD chips while holding up the FSD chip.

I have to say I’d wondered if there was a prior relationship. Turns out a HUGE prior relationship.

Originally Posted by ATX2030

https://english.etnews.com/20210426200003

....."A high-ranking official from the semiconductor industry said that Tesla is strongly asking Samsung to expand the Austin fab in order to strengthen the partnership between the two companies."

[lonewolf]

that seems like 99% a done deal to me if this info is correct.

[We vs us]

It also puts Austin's selection for the next Giga factory in a new light, too.

Musk totally decided to plant himself next to his biggest chip supplier.

[ATX2030]

Texan capital punches above its weight as a centre for growth companies

https://www.ft.com/content/e770200f-...c-23945922dd2e

[ATX2030]

Zekelman Industries, $2.8B force in construction sector, buys nearly 240 acres north of Tesla factory

https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/n...of-austin.html

Kathryn Hardison – Staff Writer, Austin Business Journal

A massive construction materials company has acquired hundreds of acres just a few miles from Tesla's gigafactory in eastern Travis County.

Chicago-based Zekelman Industries has in recent months purchased nearly 240 acres along State Highway 130, in the city of Austin's extraterritorial jurisdiction, right next to Lake Walter E. Long, according to public records.

Zekelman is a steel pipe and tube manufacturer, although with seven divisions it is involved in other activities including modular construction. Forbes recently reported that Zekelman has annual revenue of $2.8 billion, and it works with companies in sectors such as transportation, defense and commercial and industrial construction, according to its website.

[ATX2030]

With Biden meeting with President Moon Jae-in of South Korea at the White House on May 21st we should know where the 17b Samsung expansion will be going. Several publications have hinted that the location will be announced prior to the meeting.