City officials in Cowtown are eyeing a historic building as a possible site for a new downtown public library.
Downtown Fort Worth has been on the up-and-up in recent years, with a number of development projects keeping the city center vibrant and expansive. Texas A&M is building a new campus in the neighborhood, and new luxury apartments recently opened up to tenants.
As extensively reported by The Dallas Express, the criminal activity seen in Fort Worth’s downtown area is regularly dwarfed by that in Downtown Dallas, with the latter routinely outpacing the former in terms of assault offenses, drug crimes, and motor vehicle thefts. While the Dallas Police Department has been laboring under a significant staffing shortage, a specialized police unit and private security teams patrol Fort Worth’s city center.
Anyway, here’s some of what the Fort Worth Report published on the potential new library:
Just over a year after Fort Worth closed its central library branch, a new permanent downtown library location could be on the horizon.
The city announced July 31 that it plans to purchase a historic downtown Fort Worth building, located at 512 W. 4th St. and renovate it to become a new library branch. The decision still needs City Council approval, with a vote scheduled for Aug. 13.
“The new Fort Worth Downtown Library will enrich the downtown cultural landscape and serve as a vibrant hub for learning, innovation and community engagement,” council member Elizabeth Beck, who represents the area, said in a statement. “This historic building holds a special place in the hearts of Fort Worth residents and is a testament to Fort Worth’s dedication to preserving our city’s history while advancing our future to meet the evolving needs of our diverse community.”
If council approves the deal, city staff could begin planning the building’s renovation in early 2025, according to the announcement. Library spokesperson Theresa Davis said there is no estimated timeline for when the location could open.
She said staff is asking council to approve an allocation of $6.5 million to purchase the building. Those funds, plus an additional $6.5 million for the building’s renovation, will come from the sale of the previous downtown library building. The previous library building, located at 500 W. 3rd St., was officially sold to national real estate investment and development firm Dart Interests for $18 million in May 2023.