Framingham's New Community Center Project Making Progress

FRAMINGHAM — The city has taken a big step in its plan to turn a former high school into a local community center.

Framingham has hired JJ Cardosi Inc. as a contractor to secure the windows and repair the roof at the former Marian High School, the site the city hopes to transform for use as a city-wide community center.

"This project is part of Mayor Charlie Sisitsky's vision to repurpose the historic property into a vibrant hub that will serve residents across the community from age 3 to 103," city officials said in a news release.

Framingham used $3.35 million in federal ARPA funds to purchase the former Catholic high school in the fall of 2023. Another $1.7 million in federal funds was allocated to demolish the former convent on the site to create additional parking.

Nearly $6.5 million in ARPA funds will be used to secure the building by installing new windows, repairing masonry and installing a new roof, officials said.

"The renovation of the former Marian High School represents a tremendous opportunity for the City of Framingham," said Mayor Charlie Sisitsky. "We are not only preserving an important piece of our community’s history, but we are also creating a multi-generational space where residents of all ages can come together to learn, engage, and grow."

In addition to the ongoing renovation efforts, the City of Framingham applied for $5 million in congressional direct spending through Congresswoman Katherine Clark’s office to fund the installation of two ADA-compliant elevators in the four-story building, which was originally constructed in the 1950s.

Unfortunately, the funding request was not included in the recent appropriations bill passed in Washington, D.C. earlier this month. The city also applied for a $12 million federal earmark from Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Ed Markey’s offices for Fiscal Year 2025. That request is "stalled in committee," officials said.

The city is charging forward with their plans, however, and will refile for the $5 million and request around $12 million in FY2026 earmarks for an HVAC system and "essential" building upgrades, they said. Those upgrades include plumbing, electrical work and more accessibility improvements.

Officials said an architectural firm is under contract and, starting next week, a community survey will launch for them to gather input from locals.

The survey will remain open through Sept. 1.