Steps taken to secure land for potential third library in New Braunfels

The New Braunfels City Council and the New Braunfels ISD board of trustees both approved an interlocal agreement July 11 to sell a 5-acre tract of land owned by NBISD to the city—a property that potentially could serve as a third library branch.

The property is located along South Walnut Avenue at the intersection of Settlers Crossing.

New Braunfels City Manager Robert Camareno said the property would need to be replatted, as it is part of a much larger tract of land owned by the school district, and a feasibility study would need to be conducted, along with other considerations.

“The library has an adopted master plan that identifies the need for improvements and expansion to our main library as well as the need for two branch libraries—one on either side of [I-35],” Camareno said. “They're currently constructing one of those library branches—the Westside Community Center library branch—which will be completed this year.”

District 6 Council Member James Blakey said it seems ideal that the schools near the property—which is adjacent to New Braunfels Middle School and near Klein Road Elementary School—could benefit from after-school programs and the walkable proximity.

“This is yet another opportunity for us to work with a partner with NBISD,” Camareno said. “Not only would it serve the growing population of that area of the community, but [it would] also be very close to several schools so that kids can walk to that library to either do research and be a part of the program that we might have at the library. There would also be some partnership opportunities for the schools and in our library partnering program that we might have.”

Both the board of trustees and City Council unanimously approved the agreements for the sale.