After much back and forth negotiating, the Framingham Historical Society (renamed the Framingham History Center) has come to terms with the Town over long-term leasing of the Village Hall, Edgell Library, and the Old Academy Building.
For a token $ 1 a year, for a 50 year lease, the buildings will be under the supervision of the Framingham History Center. With the lease in hand, the Framingham History Center hopes to better attract donations and grants.
Hope so. These buildings are a part of what makes Framingham unique and special. So at least for a while they will be exempt from being sold off during our current economic crisis.
Last year Town Meeting members indicated their interest in preserving many town structures by approving funding of many infrastructure projects long overdue. Thank goodness they did so before the economy took a dive. There are too many buildings that have suffered due to lack of basic maintenance funding and the subsequent costs of repairs and replacements keeps increasing geometrically. Town Meeting members seemed to realize that underfunding today is more expensive tomorrow and voted accordingly.