A newly opened $31 million library is the cornerstone of Cedar Park’s grand experiment — to create an actual downtown in the growing suburb.
Why it matters: Cedar Park, which was incorporated roughly 50 years ago, saw an influx of new residents when the pandemic brought remote workers to Austin and surrounding areas. Officials long ago bet on big-box retail, minor league sports and event spaces to promote community development, but the city still lacks a central gathering place.
- Meanwhile, historic downtowns in Central Texas cities like Lockhart and Taylor are being revitalized as Austin expands outward.
Driving the news: The new library opened last month and is the focal point and first phase of the $750 million Bell District, which voters approved a decade ago.
- Lake Flato, the architects who designed the Music Lane development on South Congress and Livestrong Foundation’s headquarters, designed the library while RedLeaf Partners is developing the downtown district.
What they’re saying: Cedar Park city manager Brenda Eivens, who has worked for the city for nearly three decades, said she’s long heard from residents that the city is missing an identity and gathering space.
- “(The Bell District) was really born out of this community input on wanting a place,” she told Axios. “We eventually identified about 50 acres where the city already had some property — some inaccessible green space that we hadn’t really been using.”
Zoom in: The roughly 50-acre Bell District will center around Bell Boulevard, which runs through the middle of the city.
- “It was hard to travel on. Mobility was tough,” Eivens said of the road. “There continued to be this question: What’re we going to do about Bell?”
- The road will be populated by restaurants, shops, offices and residential buildings.
Follow the money: Cedar Park officials say a vast majority of the Bell District will be funded by the private sector. In 2020, the city allocated $15.25 million from its Community Development Corporation and $1.4 million from the city’s utility fund to cover a portion of the costs for roads, pedestrian improvements, water infrastructure and parking.
- The softening housing market and high construction costs have slowed the pace of development, but RedLeaf officials say they plan for market conditions to ebb and flow throughout the project.
- “Right now, the market is soft and new construction is difficult, but we believe the long-term fundamentals of Cedar Park will lead to community growth and the Bell District will continue to be a leader in supporting that growth,” Rob Shands, a partner at RedLeaf, told Axios.
What’s next: Phase one of the Bell District, which includes two high-density residential buildings with apartments, ground-floor shops and restaurants, and several standalone restaurants, is expected to conclude within five to seven years.
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