Franklin School may become historical site

The Franklin School at 925 13th Street NW may become a historic landmark. The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development issued a Request for Qualifications to have the historic landmark redeveloped. Located across from Franklin Square, the 144-year-old building was shuttered in October 2008 after serving as a homeless shelter for many years. The city is seeking “a high-quality rehabilitation plan for the project that showcases the building’s unique structure and pays homage to its history.” The 51,000-square-foot building was one of the first public education buildings in D.C. Later, it became the site of Alexander Graham Bell’s photo-phone experiments and, in 1880, housed the city’s first high school. Renovation costs are estimated to range from $20 million to $40 million. Questions about the RFQ should be directed to Nimita Shah at nimita.shah@dc.gov.