In 1995, the African American Heritage Preservation Foundation was part of the Advisory Council to a historic preservation project in Cape May, New Jersey. The Center for Community Arts, Inc. announced that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Historic Preservation Office confirmed that the Franklin Street School in Cape May is a contributing element of the New Jersey and National Register-listed Cape May Historic District. In issuing their "certification of eligibility," the state has recognized the school's local significance in African American History.
In March 2006, three contractors, pre-certified by the New Jersey Historic Trust, did a walk-through of Franklin Street School with CCA Architect, Michael Calafati, of Historic Building Architects, a Trenton firm that specializes in historic preservation.
This past summer, a $90,000 federal grant for the Franklin Street School had been received by Frank A. LoBiondo. This grant brought funding for the next phase of renovations to $300,000, allowing the Center for Community Arts to repair and replace the building's windows, and make structural steel, masonry and brick repairs.
The next step in the Franklin Street School's restoration will be the installation of the new electrical and mechanical systems.
The African American Heritage Preservation Foundation has partnered with several public and private sector entities throughout the past twenty-nine years. Our Preservation Partners have not only provided cooperative agreements and preservation grants, but also human capital - architects, educational staff, historians, preservationists, local leaders, college students and volunteers.
