Three years after voters approved them, Denton's new South Branch Library and Active Adult Center still have no chosen home. City staff will ask the City Council on Tuesday, Oct. 27, to start narrowing that down.
The two projects were part of the seven-proposition, $291.4 million bond package voters passed on Nov. 7, 2023. The senior center, Proposition F, carries $47.36 million, while the library, Proposition G, carries $49.545 million, according to a presentation posted with the agenda. The current budget year includes $250,000 for site and master planning on each project.
Four options on the table
Seth Garcia, who directs capital projects and street operations for the city, lists four approaches:
- One shared building. Both facilities would go on a 14.4-acre city-owned lot on Ryan Road, using the combined $96.9 million. Staff point to savings from building at scale, cheaper upkeep over the years, interaction between generations, and the chance to sell or reuse the current branch library site as advantages. The downsides they name are finding a location that works geographically for both and coordinating the design.
- Two separate sites. The library would still go on the Ryan Road lot, which staff say offers outdoor space and a good geographic location. The Active Adult Center would move to 16.2 city-owned acres at Mack Park, described as central. Running two buildings would cost more over time, and the presentation flags the park site's closeness to the American Legion Hall.
- Expand where they are. The South Branch Library opened in 1994, was renovated in 2009 and has 21,516 square feet on a 2.8-acre site. The Active Adult Center dates to 1977, was renovated in 2010 and has 20,620 square feet on roughly 2.5 acres. Staff warn of limited parking and outdoor space at the library, a major flood plain on the senior center site, unknown renovation problems, and a closure of 12 to 15 months for each during construction.
- Buy and convert existing buildings. Staff would look for available commercial space in central parts of the city, which could save money on construction but brings renovation unknowns and depends on the real estate market.
