Development
BY CLAIRE SHOOP
The backyard portion of the Bell District includes the playground located outside the Cedar Park Public Library and an event lawn, which will host a variety of programs.
COURTESY ROB SHANDS
RENDERING COURTESY REDLEAF
Rob Shands shares plan for future of Bell District Cedar Park in partnership with development rm RedLeaf is working to build the Bell District, a 54-acre mixed-use project o Bell Boulevard. The master plan for the district includes the new city library, the backyard, multifamily units, retail shops and dining, and o ce space. Rob Shands, a partner with RedLeaf, spoke to Community Impact about the vision for the district. What is the history of the Bell District? The vision for the Bell District really goes back to probably 2013 to 2015, when the city was going through the Imagine Cedar Park exercise
and decided they wanted to really focus on this one stretch of Bell Boulevard, which was the old Hwy. 183 that wasn’t growing at the same pace as the rest of the city. ... As [city leaders] started to dream about what the Bell District could be, it became pretty clear that there was an opportunity to do something iconic that would function as Cedar Park’s downtown. What construction has happened so far? The rst thing that had to happen in order for the district to come alive is the road alignment of Bell Boulevard. ... We then started the rst phase of infrastructure—these streets and utilities were built over the last couple of years, wrapping up this year. The new city library, which is phenomenal, [was completed]. And then we’re nishing up the park and green space, which surrounds the library.
What is the timeline for construction? The next vertical construction is expected to start in summer 2025, and it’s an 18-24 month build- out. We’re anticipating that will open in 2027, and then we’re targeting full build-out of Phase 1 to be complete within ve to seven years. What does it mean for the district to be a public- private partnership? [RedLeaf is] responsible for all of the private sector development, which is the apartments, the restaurants, the brownstones, the o ces. The city is responsible for the park and the library.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a longer version, visit communityimpact.com .
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