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.

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 tells 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.

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.

Funding the project

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Organized volunteering and informal helping are both rising after COVID-era dips, a new AmeriCorps report finds.

Driving the news: About 28.3% of Americans volunteered through a formal organization at least once between September 2022-23, per the biennial report, which is based on survey data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau.

• That's up 5 percentage points from 2021 when the pandemic disrupted almost all facets of American life — volunteer work included.
• The report also found a rise in the share of Americans who informally helped their neighbors, with more than 54% saying they lent a hand to someone nearby.

Zoom in: Roughly 27.4% of Texas residents formally volunteered last year, the report found.

• In Austin, the Central Texas Food Bank launched its largest-ever holiday meal distribution effort this month. Volunteers will distribute at least 30,000 meals in the surrounding area, food bank officials told KVUE.

Worth noting: The food bank sees a surge in volunteers around the holiday season each year, but often struggles to maintain interest in the new year.

The bottom line: The findings paint a broad picture of "renewed engagement in American civic life," as the report puts it.

💚 Charli XCX will bring her Brat tour to the Moody Center on April 22. (CBS Austin)

🌆 The Republic, the 48-story tower under construction at 401 W. Fourth St — what will be Austin's tallest office building when completed next year — is now half pre-leased.

• The New York-based law firm Pillsbury will lease all of the 32nd floor. (The Real Deal)

✈️ Starting in March, Hawaiian Airlines will cease nonstop service between Austin and Honolulu. (KXAN)

📚 The State Board of Education gave final approval to allow Bible-infused teachings in public elementary schools. (AP)

🦖 Quote du jour

"Unfortunately, I don't have an answer to that yet. ... But ultimately, we want to make sure that he has a good home to go to."

Here's what's on deck during your short work week.

Monday

🤣 LOL at the new East Austin Comedy Club at 7pm. $10.

🎶 See Dale Watson at the Continental Club. Show starts at 10pm. $10.

🎸 Jam to Steel Monday featuring "Sweet Gary" Newcomb at Sam's Town Point at 7pm. Advanced two-step lessons available at 8:30pm.

Tuesday

🤠 Catch Kacey Musgraves on her "Deeper Well" tour, performing two nights at the Moody Center. Doors open at 6:30pm.

🦃 Volunteer or attend H-E-B's annual Feast of Sharing holiday dinner at the Palmer Events Center, featuring live music, activities and plenty of turkey. Free and open to the public from 4-8pm.

Wednesday

🍻 Celebrate Thanksgiving eve with a bar crawl beginning at Coyote Ugly Saloon from 5-11pm. Tickets start at $7.50 for two.

Thursday

🏃‍♀️ Run the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot, with proceeds going to Caritas of Austin. Registration between now and race day starts at $35 for adults.