Leander City Council approved a $20.8 million contract for the construction of a water pump and ground storage project Aug. 6.

Austin Engineering Co. won the contract to build a new 2.5 million-gallon ground storage tank and pump station at the northeast corner of the intersection of Ronald Reagan Boulevard and East Crystal Falls Parkway.

The details: The new facility will help the city increase its water distribution and storage capacity by controlling water coming from the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority. The first phase will build three out of the facility’s planned five pumps and move about 17.5 million gallons of water per day.

The new facility is intended to address water demand along the Ronald Reagan Boulevard Corridor during peak hours, such as the morning when households are using water for bathing, cooking and other needs.

The first phase of the project is funded by water impact fees, while funding for future phases still needs to be identified. The second phase is planned to move 30 to 35 million gallons per day.

Liberty Mail Center, a family-owned business, celebrated half a decade in business July 19.

What to expect: The printing, shipping and document services business has provided the Leander and Liberty Hill communities with a range of services for over five years. Liberty Mail Center offers copying, packing, notary services, document shredding and passport photos, among other products. Co-owner Brooke Kimberlin said business growth over the past five years has been driven by getting involved with the community and emphasizing customer service.

“We really pride ourselves on knowing our customers, getting to know them and doing a good job,” she said. “If something doesn’t meet our standards of quality, then we’ll redo it ... we do everything we can to make it right.”

One more thing: Kimberlin, who owns and operates the mail center with her husband, said the business aims to “give back” by frequently partnering with those in education.

• 2082 N. US 183, Ste. 170, Leander

Construction of the Bell District kicked off with the realignment of US 183-Bell Boulevard to expand the area available for development, which was completed in 2022.

The details: Construction of the new Cedar Park Public Library and Bell Park followed. Both opened in late 2024, along with the Backyard, an open gathering space adjacent to the park and library.

The district is being developed through a public-private partnership, in which the city shares costs and responsibilities with private developers, led by master developer RedLeaf. Plans for the Bell District include restaurants, office buildings, apartment buildings with ground-floor retail spaces, and townhomes.

“It’s going to be a really vibrant, exciting place to live,” Mayor Jim Penniman-Morin said.
Today, the library, Bell Park, the Backyard, and the trail along Cluck Creek are open to the public, and see a significant number of visitors. The rest of the Bell District, however, consists primarily of empty lots.

Check out the latest Austin metro transportation updates.

Ongoing projects

Austin seeks public feedback on Cesar Chavez Street renaming: The city is seeking public feedback on the potential renaming of Cesar Chavez Street following some City Council members' request for the change earlier this year. The city is asking residents whether the street should be renamed, and if so, what designation to use as a replacement. Council will take that input before making any final decisions. Three public meetings about the renaming process will be held from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. on Aug. 11 at the Central Library and  Aug. 15 at Sanchez Elementary School, and Aug. 18 via a virtual webinar. 

Completed projects

CapMetro's Bikeshare service to resume Aug. 11: After a temporary service suspension due to an operations facility fire, Capital Metro officials announced that its rentable electric-assist bike service Bikeshare will return in phases beginning Aug. 11. Nearly one-third of the Bikeshare fleet will be available for riding by Aug. 18 in priority areas with the highest customer demand