City of Dallas officials presented a feasibility briefing Oct. 20 on plans to build two bond-funded libraries — at North Oak Cliff and Park Forest — that could be integrated with housing and other uses.

The Quality of Life, Arts and Culture Committee voted to support “the exploration of a private development partnership to align with the Park Forest and Oak Cliff Library bond projects,” a motion moved by Councilmember Scott Winn (Chair West) and seconded by a colleague. The motion passed with all members present voting in favor.

The consultants said the sites are technically suitable for vertical development and have clean geotechnical and environmental reports. Larissa and Jody of StreetSense, a subcontractor to CBRE, presented massing studies that ranged from about 150 units on the smaller site to as many as 277 units if adjacent parcels are assembled. For one North Oak Cliff scenario the team modeled a five‑story mixed-use building with a roughly 20,000-square-foot library and about 136 residential units; adding an adjacent vacant parcel could increase the project to roughly 200 units, the presentation showed.

"We wouldn't want to spend the time and energy and months exploring this if we found out the subsoil conditions were not suitable," Peter Jansen of CBRE said during the briefing about the due diligence. The presenters said they are now testing financial scenarios to determine what level of affordability and what amenities are feasible without compromising the library program.

Committee members emphasized that any development must preserve the library outcomes voters funded in the bond. "We can't miss that mark on the library," Donzel Gibson of the city manager's office said. Several members asked staff to prioritize a clearly defined library program and to return with a menu of development options tied to financing scenarios.

Councilmembers raised other issues the solicitation must address: Texas Senate Bill 840 and its effects on allowable height and residential proximity slopes; whether projects should target seniors or mixed-income populations; parking assumptions; and which funding tools to pursue, including private funding, Public Facility Corporations (PFC) or Housing Finance Corporation (HFC) models and Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) allocations. Consultants cautioned market conditions — notably borrowing costs — could materially affect feasibility and that revenue contributions to library operations will be tested but are not guaranteed.

Library Director Manja Shore said the Park Forest library will move to a new location and the North Oak Cliff project is a replacement at the same site; she added staff will explore interim services during construction. Committee members pressed for ground-level public green space, not only rooftop amenities, and suggested the library entrance at North Oak Cliff face Bishop Avenue to help create a civic focal point.

Larissa and Jody said the next three months will focus on refining program parameters, testing massing and financial assumptions, and then producing developer solicitation materials. The consultants proposed a two‑part solicitation: qualifications followed by proposals from shortlisted teams. Staff told the committee that any solicitation and terms would be brought back for committee and council review before selecting a partner.

What happens next: staff and consultants will complete financial feasibility testing and return with recommended solicitation parameters, zoning considerations and a menu of tradeoffs (density, affordability levels, amenities). The committee’s vote authorizes further exploration and development of solicitation documents for council consideration.