Howard County Executive Calvin Ball is pushing forward a transformative plan for Downtown Columbia with two major components: a new Central Branch library at the Lakefront and a surge in affordable housing development.
The existing Central Branch, built in 1981, is struggling to meet current demand. It’s the most visited library in the county and has logged more than 350 maintenance tickets this year alone. Issues range from persistent elevator failures to outdated HVAC and plumbing systems. Space limitations also force the library to cap programming.
Community input gathered over several years underscores the need:
94 percent of residents visit the library in person
Over 90 percent say book borrowing is the most valued service
70 percent want spaces for community events
64 percent want outdoor spaces
More than 60 percent believe a new branch is needed within five years
Ball’s proposal includes a land purchase from Howard Research and Development Corp. and taps previously approved state funds to begin design work. At the same time, it unlocks new housing opportunities by making the former library site and Merriweather parcel available for mixed-income residential development.
If approved by the County Council in November, design work on the new library could begin this winter — moving Columbia closer to a more inclusive and innovative future.
