Cedar Park Taps 2 Top Firms To Compete For Bell Boulevard Project

CEDAR PARK, TEXAS — City officials on Monday announced they've tapped a pair of nationally recognized construction firms to bid for the Bell Boulevard development project.

RedLeaf and Centro Development have been invited to submit responses to the city's invitation-only Request for Proposals (RFP) toward being named "master developer" for the project aimed at transforming a portion of Bell Boulevard into an accessible, pedestrian-friendly mixed-use development, officials said.

The contract for the ambitious project is set to be issued in September, officials noted.

"This narrowing-down to two finalists represents the first step in a two-step procurement process to secure a Master Developer that will transform a portion of Bell Boulevard into a true gateway and destination for the community," city officials said in a press advisory.

The impetus of the project is sparked by the region's growth, officials added: "Cedar Park is part of the Austin Metro, located on the north-northwest border of Austin and has been twice named Fourth Fastest-Growing City in the Country by the U.S. Census Bureau in recent years."

RedLeaf and Centro Development were selected from among multiple submittals to the city’s request for Qualifications (RFQ) that was issued in May, officials explained. It stipulated that the city is seeking a qualified, visionary Master Developer to participate in municipal efforts to develop city-owned property along US 183/Bell Boulevard between Buttercup Creek Boulevard and Park Street as a catalyst area that will spur redevelopment and high-quality development throughout the Bell Boulevard District and broader Bell corridor, officials said.

Centro Development is a real estate development firm located in Austin. The firm’s focus is mixed-use residential development and urban redevelopment. Their development projects are primarily located in the central Texas region, but are as far away as Dallas and Atlanta. Their projects in Central Texas include the Seaholm Power Plant, Residences at the Domain/Villages at the Domain, and Post West Avenue in Austin.

RedLeaf Properties, also based in Austin, is a real estate developer known for working in partnership with public entities to create large-scale, mixed-use projects. RedLeaf’s developments in Central Texas include serving as master developer for the redevelopment of Highland-ACC in Austin, co-developer for La Frontera Plaza in Round Rock, and master developer for the City of Austin Planning and Development Center in Highland.

Through the next steps of the invitation-only RFP process, the slate will essentially be cleared and the developers will start from scratch with their responses to the RFP, officials said. The city seeks ultimately to form a true public-private partnership with one firm that will be responsible for managing the development and disposition of the Bell Boulevard District from initiation to final buildout, overseeing site preparation and infrastructure development, financing, marketing and asset management, officials added.

“We are thrilled to have two such prestigious development firms – RedLeaf and Centro – competing for this opportunity to transform the Bell Boulevard District into an exciting destination for our community," Cedar Park Assistant City Manager Katherine Caffrey said in a prepared statement. "Both firms have a strong presence in communities across our country and a proven track record of placemaking. We are eager to see the vision that each firm brings to the table in the next stages of this process.”

The City of Cedar Park anticipates making a decision of which group it would like to negotiate a development agreement with later this year and work with the selected developer to negotiate a comprehensive agreement in 2019, officials said.

What is the Bell Boulevard District?

The Bell Boulevard District is located on Bell Boulevard (US 183), the primary north-south corridor for Cedar Park, between Buttercup Creek Boulevard and Park Street. While the area was once a vital community hub, it has not experienced the same level of economic growth seen in other areas of the city. In 2014, during a city-wide comprehensive planning process, the community expressed strong interest in seeing this area revitalized. Revitalization of the Bell Boulevard District is a top priority for Cedar Park. The project is backed by a master plan utilizing redevelopment experts from across the nation, thorough financial modeling and forecasting for the public and private sector, and significant public investment in the project thus far. This area will become a 40-acre mixed-use development featuring retail, restaurant, office and residential space as well as the 12-acre Buttercup Creek Natural Area. The core of the Bell Boulevard District will be a walkable area designed especially for pedestrian traffic.

More information about the Bell Boulevard District may be found at www.DestinationBellBlvd.com.

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