Fort Worth Will Find New Site for Planned Downtown Public Library

The City of Fort Worth announced this week that it intends to abandon plans for new downtown library at 512 W. Fourth St. and will instead proceed with an entirely new development.

The city posted the details in a Tuesday blog post. According to the post, further evaluation of the W. Fourth St. property continued after its 2024 purchase.

Several findings led city leadership to determine that the location would not be the best choice to proceed with a modern public library.

So now the W. Fourth St. building will be transformed into a community arts incubator. Mayor Mattie Parker appointed former Visit Fort Worth President & CEO Bob Jameson to chair a working group to review the subject.

Also expected to serve on the working group are council members Elizabeth Beck, Macy Hill, Deborah Peoples, Jeanette Martinez, and other community members and stakeholders.

Once the community appointments are confirmed, the working group will gather public feedback and develop recommendations for how the space can best support Fort Worth's creative community.

As for the new downtown library, the city plans to construct a new 20,000- to 30,000-square-foot library at a yet-to-be-determined site. Property management and city leadership are currently reviewing potential locations that can accommodate public parking and the amenities residents identified as priorities during community engagement sessions.

Architecture and construction firms are expected to be selected as planning progresses. There will also be additional public input opportunities offered as that process continues.