Elected officials met in Framingham on Wednesday to celebrate more than $3 million in federal funding to redevelop the former Marian High School into a community center, as work continues to fully fund the project first announced in 2023.
Congresswoman Katherine Clark (D-Framingham) joined Mayor Charlie Sisitsky and City Council Chair George King at the event outside the former Catholic high school to celebrate $3.15 million in federal funding secured for the project in the federal fiscal 2026 budget.
The funding will be used to address critical infrastructure needs for the building at 273 Union Ave., including HVAC improvements and Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades, as the City and federal officials work to secure enough funding to complete the project.
“Thanks to the vision, hard work, and collaboration of the leaders here in Framingham, we have brought home $3 million to serve our neighbors and deliver a top-of-the-line gathering space for this community,” Clark said. “While we continue to see chaos and nonsense in Washington, here in Massachusetts, we are showing what’s possible when we put people and communities first.”
Marian closed in 2018, with the Archdiocese of Boston later putting up the site for sale. Invictus Forever, a Weston-based nonprofit, purchased the site for $2.6 million in 2020, but its plans to turn the school into a life skills development center for children and adults with disabilities later fell through.
The City of Framingham then purchased the site for $3.35 million in 2023 using American Rescue Plan Act funds, with the intention of converting the school into a multi-generational community center.
A further $1.7 million in funding was used to demolish the former convent at the site to clear the way for more parking. When completed, the site is expected to host nonprofits, cultural programs, community events, and sports activities.
The city has hired Rhode Island-based construction firm JJ Cardosi to make essential site improvements, including installing a new roof and securing windows. Just under $6.5 million in ARPA funds have been used to support necessary improvements so far, but a further $22 million in funding has yet to be approved by Congress, according to the City’s website.
“More than 850 people participated in our community survey, and they made it clear that Framingham wants and needs a central gathering place,” Mayor Sisitsky said. “They want a place that reflects the diversity, energy, and spirit of our city.”
The site received a 2024 assessment value of $9.48 million, according to municipal property records.
Eric Casey is the managing editor at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the real estate and banking & finance industries.
