City Signs Danforth Building Over to State for Justice Center Project

BOSTON - Framingham has transferred control of the Thomas Danforth Building along Union Avenue to the state, paving the way for the creation of a new regional justice center within the city.

Mayor Charlie Sisitsky signed the property over to the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance during a ceremony at the State House on Friday, January 3. State Senate President and Senator for the 2nd Middlesex and Norfolk District Karen Spilka was present at that event, as she described the signing as the culmination of a roughly decade-long process to begin the replacement of the current Framingham District Court along Concord Street.

“The state did put several millions of dollars towards upgrading the (current building), but it was still pretty evident that, in terms of providing true access to justice for the residents of MetroWest and the state, we need a new building," Spilka said in an interview with The Frame in Boston on Friday.

The Danforth building has been utilized in multiple ways since opening in 1907, including for education, athletics, communal meeting space, and as a museum. Now, it's primed to be used for what city and state officials describe as a justice center for those across the MetroWest area.

The new center is set to take over for the current courthouse. The Danforth building could hold multiple local and state courts under one roof as opposed to having numerous courts sprawled across other nearby municipalities; Spilka pointed out that the Framingham Housing Court is actually located in Marlborough, while the Probate and Family Court is situated in Lowell. Plans for the new center in Framingham include space for additional legal services and resources as well.

Spilka explained that one of her top priorities was keeping the new justice center within the city.

“Framingham is the hub—and I believe the heart—of MetroWest, so we needed to keep it," Spilka continued.

City and state leaders hope the new justice center leads to additional economic development within the downtown area by attracting more businesses, job opportunities, and visitors. The Danforth site was specifically identified as a prime location for the project due to its accessibility via multiple forms of transportation, according to Spilka.

“By having it located in Downtown Framingham, physically accessing this building will be easier than it is now, thereby increasing access to justice," Spilka said.