FRANKLIN SCHOOL IS NOT SURPLUS - TURN OUT THURSDAY!
Parisa Norouzi
Please forward widely – let us know if you are coming! RSVP/get further updates to par...@empowerdc.org or (202) 234-9119
URGENT ACTION ALERT FROM THE
PEOPLE’S PROPERTY CAMPAIGN
Tell the Mayor & Council:
FRANKLIN SCHOOL
IS NOT SURPLUS!
And should NOT be given/sold to a developer!
TURN OUT to the COMMUNITY HEARING
Thursday, November 18th
6:30-8:30 PM
Location: Thomson Elementary School (large meeting room in basement)
1200 L Street Northwest, Washington D.C. 20005
As required by the Public Property Surplus Standards Amendment Act passed earlier this year, the Mayor is required to hold a hearing at an accessible time and location in the impacted community and receive public comment on the question of whether a public property is “surplus” prior to requesting the Council vote to surplus and dispose of the property. When asked, the staff people running this hearing said that people do not need to sign up in advance, everyone will be given a chance to speak briefly but the hearing will not last more than 2 hours. Written comments can be sent to dc...@dc.gov and jfa...@dccouncil.us. For more information about the hearing contact Jared Kahn (202) 213-9215 or Nimita Shah at (202) 215-3650.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Opened in 1869, the historically-designated Franklin School is located at 925 13th Street NW (13th & K STs, NW). The school served educational and other public uses until shuttered by Mayor Fenty in 2008. Former Mayor Anthony Williams sought to dispose of the building to developer Herb Miller, who later won a $500,000 court settlement from the city when the building was not turned over to him as promised. After lengthy protests calling attention to the lack of shelter services, Franklin opened as a low barrier hypothermia shelter for men and served that purpose from 2002-2008. More information about the education history of Franklin School is available at http://www.franklinschooldc.org.
TALKING POINTS:
- Franklin School is a historic, irreplaceable generational asset that must be kept for current and future residents
- “Surplus” is defined as “no further public use.” The city has failed to do proper community planning in order to make this determination. Most notably, the city has still not completed a Master Facilities Plan as long required by the Comprehensive Plan and the Master Public Facilities Plan Amendment Act of 2010
- There are multiple public uses which could be served by the Franklin School including educational purposes (both primary education and Adult learning), job training, homeless services, and space for community-serving organizations.
- While the city may not have funds for immediate restoration of Franklin School, in this economy the property is sure to sit vacant for multiple years if disposed of to a developer – just as Randall School has, which was sold to the Corcoran and has been vacant since 2004.
- The city should “mothball” the building, undergo a thorough public planning process to determine a repurposed public use, identify funding mechanisms including possible Tax Increment Financing to fund the renovation, and aim for the building to be back in public use within the next few years.
Parisa B. Norouzi
Executive Director
Empower DC
1419 V St, NW
Washington, DC 20009