Downtown Franklin is the vibrant heart of the community, home to Dean College, adjacent to two National Historic Districts, and host to many annual cultural events. This old fashioned downtown contains dozens of locally owned businesses, the Dean/Downtown Franklin MBTA Commuter Rail Station, and a variety of housing opportunities including new condominiums within a block of the MBTA station.
Several downtown parcels were recently redeveloped with a mix of residential, office and retail uses, representing approximately $25 million in private investment. Downtown Franklin is an ideal location for additional mixed-use and transit oriented development.
During the last ten years revitalization of downtown Franklin has been a major priority for the town. The town has constructed a new fire station, reconstructed several roadways, developed a small public parking lot and pocket park, and made a variety of other small improvements. Additional improvements are underway at the town common, public library, and the new Franklin Historical Museum on West Central St.
This summer the town will begin design and construction of its multi-year $7.4 million Downtown Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project. The project is an integral part of the town's strategy for downtown revitalization, and includes reconstruction of sidewalks, new lighting systems, ADA compliant ramps, traffic islands, interconnected traffic signals with emergency preemption system, traffic calming devices and streetscape/landscape improvements.
For more information about downtown Franklin call Franklin's Department of Planning and Community Development or the Franklin Downtown Partnership.