CAPE MAY – Freeholders have committed funding to the redevelopment of the Franklin Street School in Cape May.
According to a release, the county has agreed to put an amount not to exceed $2.3 million towards a shared services project with the City of Cape May and the Cape May County Library Commission.
City officials say they are excited about preserving the history of the building and repurposing it for the future. The city owns the building which was used as a school for African American children during segregation when it was built in 1927.
Once segregation ended in 1949, the building has not been used consistently.
“We think this is a great project for our county,” stated Freeholder E. Marie Hayes, liaison to the county Library Commission. “Libraries are community centers and we believe this new library will enhance life in Cape May.”
Each entity is putting in around $2 million for the project for a total of roughly $6 million. New libraries were built in recent years in Stone Harbor and Wildwood Crest.
“The Franklin Street School has great historical value,” stated Freeholder Director Gerald M. Thornton. “We appreciate the hard work the elected officials in Cape May have done with us and the Library Commission.”
