Danforth Museum To Purchase Maynard Building for $1.5 Million

Danforth Museum and School of Art has reached an agreement with the Town of Framingham to purchase the Jonathan Maynard Building for $1.5 million.

Selectmen unanimously approved the deal Tuesday night, 4-0 (Selectman Ginger Esty was not present).

The final step is Town Meeting's approval in May.

If Town Meeting approves, the Danforth Museum and School of Arts currently housed in the Danforth Building, which once was a high school, will move to the Maynard Building, which also once was a school.

If everything is approved, the Museum would move across from the Town Common and near Village Hall, Edgell Memorial Library and the Framingham History Center forming a cultural, historic district, which would be available for state and federal funding.

The plan would be for the Danforth to move into the first floor of the Maynard in the fall of 2014 and to fully occupy the building by the fall of 2016.

Negotiating the deal for the Town of Framingham was Town Manager Bob Halpin, Selectman Dennis Giombetti, Finance Committee member Betty Funk, Real Property Committee member Ned Price and Realtor Jim Gordon.

The deal calls for the Danforth Museum to pay the Town of Framingham $250,000 cash immediately and $750,000 over 20 years. The remaining $500,000 would be given to the town in in-kind services, like discounted memberships for Framingham residents.  

The Framingham Public Schools administration was once held in the Maynard Building, until a mol issue forced them elsewhere.

The mold issue was addressed. Currently, Framingham State University is using a floor for its Education Center.