ARTSPACE FRANKLIN SALE NEARLY COMPLETE

The Brainerd School Board approved February 15, 2008 as the final closing date in the sale of Franklin Junior High School to Artspace Projects. The Minneapolis-based arts organization will buy Franklin for $750,000 and lease parts of the school back to the district for $39,000 a year. Artspace intends to build 25 art studio living spaces in the old school using tax increment financing and a $875,000 loan from the city of Brainerd. School Business Director Steve Dickinson told the Brainerd Dispatch that just about all the legalities for the sale have been taken care of and by "mid to late January, it will be all the way done."