DMPED: October 14, 2002 - Press Release pg1

Mayor Williams Submits to Council a Request for Proposals for Historic Franklin School

(Washington, DC) The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development today submitted to the Council of the District of Columbia a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the renovation and reuse of the historic Franklin School. The administration proposes to dispose of the building through a competitive process.

"We are seeking proposals that help promote a vibrant, active downtown," said Andrew Altman, Director of the Office of Planning. "At the same time, we wanted to preserve the building's historic features and ensure the public's access in the future."

The RFP states that the District is particularly interested in receiving proposals for cultural and higher educational institutions. In addition, the District wants the Great Hall to be accessible to the public for scheduled meetings and performances. The administration also proposes that the District enter into a long-term ground lease, rather than sell the property.

In preparation for the building's disposition, the District contracted for several studies, including an architectural/historic analysis and an economic benefits analysis. The studies were released on July 10 and are available on the Office of Planning's website. The administration also released a Request for Expressions of Interest in August to gauge developers' interests in the site.

"Once our consultants concluded that the facility could only support about twenty-five condominiums, we decided that we would prefer to see submissions that promote activity along Franklin Square in the evening and the weekends, and that take advantage of the site's economic development potential," said Eric Price, Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development. Because of the inherent value of the site, the administration is looking for proposals that will not require a direct subsidy from the District.