The Franklin School, one of the capital city’s family jewels, is losing its luster. Don’t be surprised if it goes the way of Eastern Market or Georgetown Library, as in consumed by a blaze. “The whole building could collapse or go up in flames,” says Terry Lynch, executive director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations. “It’s in grave danger.”
What’s at stake is one of the last 19th century buildings in downtown D.C. It is a structure that soothes the eyes amid the dreary office buildings that line most of our downtown corridors, a pause in the flat-fronted, beige facades.
The classic, red brick structure adorns the southeast corner of 13th and K streets. The school was designed by architect Adolf Cluss and opened in 1869 to be one of the first schools to present curricula by age group.
Cluss brought in craftsmen from Europe to paint murals and set mosaics. For decades Washingtonians came to hear concerts and lectures in the great hall’s 1,000-seat auditorium.
In 1880, Alexander Graham Bell set up shop on Franklin School’s roof to test his new photophone, which transmitted sound by light waves. Now that roof is about to cave in.
The grand building’s gradual deterioration is a crime, and the culprit is a city government that has diddled for decades and failed to protect a treasure. In this critical moment, the city is once again heading toward delay.
The building’s most recent use? A homeless shelter. You might say, why not? If the city cannot provide for its residents in need in another building, why not in a city-owned landmark? Because a unique structure — designated as a National Historic Landmark, on the National Register of Historic Places — deserves to be refurbished in style for the entire city, homeless and homed.
No, it should not be a public school. At 30,000 square feet, it’s too small, and it has no grounds. No, it should not be a home for nonprofits or government offices. Franklin School needs the care of a new owner who has $30 million to restore it in Adolf Cluss’ image.
The city asked for redevelopment bids in 2009. Amid the recession, only one came: Cana Development, out of Baltimore, proposed a boutique hotel, a culinary academy, plenty of retail. Rather than accept, the city dithered. The proposal came as Mayor Adrian Fenty was running for re-election. He lost. Mayor Vince Gray is starting anew — very slowly.
Sources in the mayor’s development office tell me eight to 10 groups have approached the city with grand proposals, now that the credit markets have loosened up. Among them are well-endowed foundations, hoteliers, corporations looking for a grand home base.
“I fear two more years of delay,” says Terry Lynch. “We need to settle on a deal, get people to work, start taking in tax dollars.”
Or at least spend $1 million patching the roof and the wiring, so another national treasure doesn’t wind up a pile of red rubble.
Harry Jaffe’s column appears on Tuesday and Friday. He can be contacted at [email protected].
