Fort Worth to buy historic downtown building for new library
FORT WORTH, Texas - Fort Worth will soon have a new downtown public library.
The city council voted unanimously on Tuesday to use the $18 million from the sale of the former Central Library to purchase and renovate a historic building on 4th Street.
The old building on 3rd Street was sold to a real estate developer in 2023.
Fort Worth shuts down Central Library location
The Fort Worth Central Library is closing its doors permanently on Friday.
"The city sold the site of our old downtown library," Councilwoman Elizabeth Beck told FOX 4 in July. "It was a full city block. It was being underutilized, so we sold that to a developer to help revitalize and really develop that part of downtown."
The existing historic building at the new location comes with a price tag of about $6.4 million.
It has unique, original features and a flexible ballroom and auditorium space. However, it will need some upgrades to become a working library.
City of Fort Worth eyeing historic downtown building for new central library
The existing historic building will come with a price tag of about $6.5 million.
The renovations could begin as early as 2025.
Downtown residents will have access to an "express library" until the new downtown branch opens.