Upzoned A Strong Towns View of the New SpaceX Company Town
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May 14, 2025 Edward Erfurt, Director of Community Action at Strong Towns, offers insights into the emergence of Starbase, a new company town for SpaceX employees in Boca Chica, Texas. They explore the challenges and power dynamics of such a community, drawing parallels to historical mining towns. The conversation highlights the intricacies of local governance under corporate control and the potential for innovation in housing. Erfurt also discusses community engagement strategies and the importance of addressing residents' needs in this unique environment.
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Risks of Starbase Company Town
- Starbase as a company town risks economic and social fragility by tying residents' livelihood and governance to one employer.
- This mirrors historical company towns, limiting autonomy and creating potential vulnerabilities for residents.
Life in Historical Company Towns
- In historical company towns, employees paid rent to their employer and used company-issued currency for purchases at company stores.
- Losing the job meant losing housing and livelihood, creating a fragile and controlling system.
Starbase: Strategic Control and Governance
- Starbase's boundaries and infrastructure reflect strategic control over key assets rather than organic town planning.
- Incorporation grants access to new revenue mechanisms and shifts management from engineers to municipal-style governance.