Built near the turn of the 20th century, the Franklin Building at 50 Public Square in downtown Watertown was condemned by the city almost a decade ago. Now, thanks to funding provided by the WLDC, Key Bank and various state and federal sources, this important landmark has been historically preserved and successfully developed.

Neighbors of Watertown, owners of the Franklin Building, managed the $9 million project. Crawford and Sterns were the architects, while Con-Tech handled the construction.

Neighbors achieved their goal of preserving the architectural and structural integrity of the building while turning the three-story brick structure into a mixed-use space. There are 16 residential units on the upper floors for tenants with low to moderate incomes, and 6 to 12 commercial units at street level. Restoration and renovation of the Franklin Building not only contributes towards solving the housing crisis in the area, it also helps the City of Watertown in their ongoing efforts to revitalize downtown. Contact Neighbors of Watertown for information on commercial space available in the Franklin Building.