Monday, Jan. 28, Columbus City Council voted unanimously to remove the residential zoning restriction on the old Ohio State School for the Deaf property, 400 E. Town St., to allow for possible redevelopment by the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML).

Today, CML’s Board of Trustees voted unanimously to purchase the 2.24-acre Deaf School property for $2,160,000, located between Topiary Park and Main Library, 96 S. Grant Ave.

“Our library is essentially landlocked,” said Patrick Losinski, CEO of CML. “This land provides us more options to expand and improve Main Library and its offerings.”

Inspired by Bryant Park in New York, CML looks to provide an outdoor reading room and green space for library customers by connecting Main Library to Topiary Park via the old Deaf School land.

Cristo Rey Columbus High School has shown interest in redeveloping the building on the acquired property as a college preparatory high school.