1955 Dallas Central Library Building

[dfwcre8tive]

http://dallaslibrary.org/100/1954CommerceNight.jpg

Now that Main Street Garden is going in across the street and the 50s facade will be more visible, does this building have a better chance of being restored? This building, which sits on the location of the original 1901 library, has been sitting empty since the 1982 Central library opened.

Is this building still owned by the same people who own the neighboring Grand Hotel? I think it would be the perfect location for a book store across from the new park and UNT, but is the building too weathered for rehabilitation?

A recent rear exterior shot:

http://img411.imageshack.us/img411/899/library01ee4.jpg

You can read about the building's history and controversial artwork along with good photos here (http://nostalgicglass.org/display.php?pn=19).

[cowboyeagle05]

Alot of people have been hoping for a restoration. A Barnes & Noble like project would be great along with some sort of street side cafe all respecting the architecture but it would be very expensive and of course it would be great addition next to a newly renovated Dallas Grand Hotel but I am afraid this building will end up on the chopping block so they can build a parking garage for the Hotel. Hopefully there will be a much larger out cry if any attempts are made at a demolition of the Historic building that would work very well next to the Hotel providing a added retail value.

What size is the building is it, too small, too big, just right for a standard big box retailer?

[dfwcre8tive]

What size is the building is it, too small, too big, just right for a standard big box retailer?

I've heard that is has 4 floors above ground and 2 floors below ground (with an auditorium). Does anyone know? It's larger than it appears from the outside.

[cowboyeagle05]

Probably seems so small because its next to the large Grand Hotel. It seems that its size could hold several things probably new space for the Hotel and retail and restaurant space. Of course if I was thinking a little differently it would work really well as another community building but I don't think a developer would find that as beneficial to a project that would again be very exspensive.

[dfwcre8tive]

Maybe a theater/nightclub in the basement, bookstore/cafe in the middle, and restaurant with rooftop patio overlooking the park on the top floor.

[cowboyeagle05]

Maybe a theater/nightclub in the basement, bookstore/cafe in the middle, and restaurant with rooftop patio overlooking the park on the top floor.


Sounds good to me where do I drop down my investment money! :)

[I45Tex]

Great points, and good choice for a post!
By the way, is Jason Grant a forumer?

Reuters said that Barnes & Noble's typical community store "offers a title base, a cafe, a children's section, a music department, a magazine section and a calendar of ongoing events, including author appearances and children's activities. Barnes & Noble stores range in size from 10,000 to 60,000 square feet depending upon market size, with an overall average store size of 25,000 square feet" while "Borders superstores average 24,800 square feet in size, including approximately 13,000 square feet devoted to books, 2,900 square feet devoted to music, 800 square feet devoted to newsstand and 900 square feet devoted to movies. Through its remodeling efforts, Borders is realigning space devoted to specific categories which, in general, results in an increase in space for categories, such as books, movies and gifts and stationery and a reduction in music space. As part of those efforts, the Company remodeled 88 Borders superstores during fiscal 2006. Stores opened in during fiscal 2006, averaged 22,800 square feet."

DallasCAD lists it as having 25Ksf per floor in the two-level full basement and a total of 81800 sf in four storeys above ground. The 2002 photos show the building looking pretty good. I imagine that a restaurant on the first floor and bookstore occupying the whole of the second floor and most of the first, with office condos on the third and fourth floors, would do well. Incidentally, DallasCAD lists it as a 1958 building.

http://www.dallascad.org/AcctDetailCom.aspx?ID=00000101692000000

[BigD5349]

Does anyone know where the sculpture is now, that was on the front facade of the building? (the big hand with a boy in it...)

I'd like to see it put back because it's a great period piece. I could see this as a bookstore and cafe, across from the new park. It'd be great to add in a component where you could bring in your laptop and get access to free internet and even printing services. So many more people are working on the fly these days, it'd be great if they could accomodate small group meetings, too.

If a bookstore, I'd prefer a half priced books rather than a borders or barnes & noble. It ought to be a place to just hang out and enjoy the day.

[I45Tex]

Borders or B&N pay higher rents. But I agree with you.

[msutton]

It would be great to have a Half Price downtown... get another Black Forest Coffee location, too. Regardless, the bookstore idea is brilliant for the old Library. Maybe the city could turn the bottom two floors into additional performance venues? I know they are adding some black box theaters to Libraries around the city, but it would be great to have a couple of theaters on Main St.

[Mballar]

Bookstore! Bookstore! Bookstore!

[incrediculous]

Forget Barnes & Nobles. Forget Half Price Books.

Here's your answer (http://www.powells.com/).

Unlike HalfPrice, Powell's actually knows what's in their inventory. And unlike Barnes & Nobles, they stock far more than the obvious classics and today's best sellers.

Powell's operates a 4 story store in Downtown Portland, filling an entire city block with 65,000 square feet of bibliophile heaven. They'd be perfect for this building.

[cowboyeagle05]

Good find, they seem great and I like Half Price Books as well as a usual institution in this area. But if a developer could attract such and outside business that would make the location much more of a attraction for people if they need to come downtown to get to such a great place. And if the building still has a auditorium like suggested above a community theater would be great addition call it Main Street Garden Theater for local artists, book readings, community group meetings.

[nicnivinfae]

Where did people park when they stayed in the Grand Hotel before it closed?

[Bferris]

Where did people park when they stayed in the Grand Hotel before it closed?

There were numerous garages and surface lots around.

In its heyday, many of the guests rode around in taxis.

There were some serious parties held there during Texas/ou Weekend and Cotton Bowls. Imagine 2000 people drinking in the street in front of the hotel. For 48 hours straight.

[dfwcre8tive]

There is a closed off ramp on the SE corner of Harwood /Commerce descending underground. Does this lead to an underground garage somewhere or just under the Old City Hall?

[AeroD]

This is a stretch...but that library could possibly be used as library again, but instead of a public library...a law library for UNT.

Granted, I don't know the proposed layout for the Municipal Court Building that UNT intends to use, but a building already designed as a library and that has an auditorium seems like no-brainer for UNT.

[cowboyeagle05]

Where did people park when they stayed in the Grand Hotel before it closed?

One of the places they parked was a parking garage that just got torn down for the Main Street Gardens straight across the street. The library probably just used the parking alots nearby the city might have owned a parking lot nearby in the past, considering they had the municipal building and a Library so close.

Also the idea of a UNT law library in that space would be perfect too, as long as it happens in a timely manner and doesn't just sit their waiting till 2015 before UNT could get to it due to the state government reluctance to give UNT the permission to precede with the Law school but thats another topic on another thread.

[Lakewooder]

The sculpture was given away or sold to someone/city who held quite a bit of the sculptor's collection. For some reason I am thinking it went to Milwaukee or Minneapolis...