Framingham Danforth Building Signed Over To State

News release from City of Framingham.

FRAMINGHAM, MA — On Friday afternoon, January 3, in the Senate President's office at the Massachusetts State House, City of Framingham Mayor Charlie Sisitsky signed over the Thomas Danforth Building to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Mayor and the City Council are gifting the 123 Union Avenue Building to the Commonwealth. The property was assessed at $13.3 million in 2025.

Named for Thomas Danforth, the man who gave Framingham its name, the Danforth Building opened in 1907 as Framingham High School. In 1958, the building was enlarged to house Framingham Junior High School. In 1964, the building became Lincoln Junior High and between 1970 and 1974, the building was Farley Middle School.

In 1975, the building re-open after renovations from Keefe Technical High School, and was the home of the Danforth Museum & Art School. The building has housed the Police Athletic Boxing program, the Performing Arts Center of MetroWest and other art associations, as well as the Boys & Girls Clubs of MetroWest.

Sadly in 2016, due to a failed heating system, the building was forced to close for outside organizations including the museum.

With this gift to the Commonwealth, the property at 123 Union Avenue will become home to a new regional justice center.

The new regional justice center in downtown Framingham will bring economic development to Framingham’s central business district, creating jobs and fostering community engagement.

City of Framingham will serve as a hub for legal services, offering support and resources to residents across the region. The regional justice center is expected to attract professionals and visitors, boosting local businesses and enhancing the vibrancy of the downtown district.

This is a wonderful Commonwealth-City partnership that will significantly stimulate economic growth, said Mayor Charlie Sisitsky.