But Many Residents Apparently Are Resisting The Offers

SpaceX is attempting to buy as much property as it can in Boca Chica, TX, a small village near the company's south Texas test facility.

The company's initial plan was to build a full-scale spaceport to launch payloads into orbit from the Texas coast. Due to numerous setbacks, that plan was shelved while SpaceX worked on its Starship rocket that it hopes will one day carry humans to Mars.

But SpaceX has been using its Boca Chica facility for testing of its Starhopper prototype, which recently flew to an altitude of 500 feet from a concrete pad just 1.5 miles from the nearest residence in the village. After the Starhopper test flight in July ignited several brush fires, public safety warnings about possible explosions, and hopes for authorization from the FAA to launch orbital-class rockets from Texas, the company began sending letters to residents offering to buy their properties.

Business Insider reports that property owners both living in Boca Chica and elsewhere have received letters from a commercial real estate company offering to buy their properties due to the disruptions caused by launch activities. In the letter, the real estate broker said that SpaceX was "committed to a fair and equitable process for acquiring this real estate", and an independent firm had been retained to appraise each property individually.

"SpaceX is offering you three times the independently appraised fair market value of your property," the letter said. "The offer is good through two weeks from the date of this letter."

The date on the letter was September 12. The letter said the amount of the offer is "not negotiable." SpaceX also offered to cover any closing costs for those who accept the offer.

But at least 10 property owners are reluctant to take the offer, according to Business Insider. Reasons ranged from not wanting to sell at "eminent-domain" prices to just feeling like they are being bullied into selling their homes.

SpaceX did not immediately respond when contacted by Business Insider.

(Image from file)

 FMI: Source report