(WASHINGTON, DC) – Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor L. Hoskins today announced that the District of Columbia, through the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED), has released a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for redevelopment of the historic Franklin School building located in Ward 2.  The Franklin School building is situated in the heart of Downtown DC, four blocks from the White House, within walking distance to all Metro lines, and across from Franklin Square–a public park.  Its location not only lends itself to being a prime opportunity for rehabilitation and reuse, but also an opportunity to invest in an iconic building with incredible visibility.

“The historic Franklin school building and its surrounding parcel is rare, downtown real estate poised for redevelopment,” said Deputy Mayor Hoskins. “The District is proud to issue this RFQ as the start of the rehabilitation effort that will return the Franklin School to a vibrant place in the community.”

The Franklin School is a landmark listed on the DC Inventory of Historic Sites.  This designation provides protection and a review process to ensure compatible treatments not only for the exterior of the Franklin School but for interior features and finishes.  The property is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places at the highest level of designation as a National Historic Landmark.  The existing building is located at 925 13th Street, NW and is approximately 51,000 square feet.  The building is currently vacant and the District is seeking a high-quality rehabilitation plan for the project that showcases the building’s unique structure and pays homage to its history.

Qualified teams are invited to respond to the RFQ as part of the first phase of a two-phase process for the disposition and redevelopment of the historic Franklin School building.  After responses are received, a review process will ensue to short-list the respondents as qualified to move forward in the City’s solicitation process for the site.  Short-listed development teams will be eligible to respond to a Request for Proposals (RFP) that will be issued this summer.  Following this, a developer is slated to be selected by late fall of 2013.      

DMPED will host a Pre-Response Information Session and Site Visit on Friday, April 26th.  This session is strongly recommended for all potential respondents.  For more information on this event and a copy of the RFQ, please visit the DMPED's Development opportunities page.  

About the Historic Franklin School Building

Built from 1865-1869, the Franklin School was the flagship school in a group of seven modern urban buildings constructed as the first to house a comprehensive system of free universal public education in the District. The building was the site of Alexander Graham Bell's photo-phone experiments in 1876, and it housed the City's first high school in 1880. It later became the administrative headquarters of the District school system and ultimately home to an adult education center. 

 Media Contacts

• Chanda Washington (DMPED),  (202) 727-6365
• Erin Meadors (DMPED),  202) 727-6365