Dallas considers combining bigger, regional libraries with housing, retail projects

Dallas leaders are exploring ways to combine new regional libraries with affordable housing and community spaces.

City staff presented the Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee on Monday with early concepts for two library projects. The North Oak Cliff library, in District 1 in southern Dallas, and the Park Forest library, in the north side’s District 13, could serve as a mixed-use developments with housing, public amenities and updated library facilities.

The new libraries will be open longer hours and have expanded services, city officials said.

City Library Director Manya Shorr said the North Oak Cliff project will replace an existing library on the same site, while Park Forest will relocate to a new parcel. Both projects are still in early design and financial testing phases, and staff plan to return with more detailed recommendations, including development structures and revenue-sharing options.

The city closed the Skillman Southwestern Library weeks ago and plans to shut down four more in its move to a regional model.

Consultants from CBRE, a commercial real estate services and investment firm, and city staff presented findings and potential models based on case studies from other cities across the country where libraries have been combined with housing or retail.

Each of the reference projects included affordable housing, with some also offering senior or market-rate units and shared amenities, such as youth spaces, job training centers or creative studios.

According to consultants, the next phase of planning will focus on testing design options against financial feasibility.

Park Forest Branch

At the Park Forest site, the team is considering whether the project could include senior housing, an option they noted may be more readily accepted by surrounding neighborhoods. They also cited the need for additional zoning consultation as the concept moves forward.

Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Gay Donnell Willis, who represents the district where the library is located, expressed enthusiasm for combining libraries with housing, calling it “a way to adapt what might be right for the neighborhood and the city overall.”

She emphasized that the project should remain centered on the library’s mission while exploring how a residential component might help generate revenue for ongoing operations.

Committee members discussed potential funding models, including partnerships through the city’s Housing Finance Corporation or the Public Facility Corporation, which could help leverage affordable housing incentives. They also raised questions about Senate Bill 840, a new state law affecting development height and proximity standards, noting that staff will need to assess its implications for both sites.

North Oak Cliff Branch

Council member Chad West, who represents North Oak Cliff, underscored the importance of community design, including access to green space and outdoor gathering areas. He noted that the surrounding area is considered a park desert and one of the city’s heat islands.

“There needs to be, even if it’s small, some type of incorporated green space,” West said.

Council members voiced broad support for continuing the work, while emphasizing transparency with residents, maintaining the character of the neighborhoods and a clear focus on the libraries themselves.

The next Quality of Life, Arts and Culture committee will be on Nov. 17 at 9 a.m.