-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001395404-08-000004.txt : 20080306
<SEC-HEADER>0001395404-08-000004.hdr.sgml : 20080306
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080306140500
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001395404-08-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080306
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080306
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080306

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FRANKLIN STREET PROPERTIES CORP /MA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001031316
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				042724223
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 EDGEWATER PLACE
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			WAKEFIELD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01880
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7815571300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 EDGEWATER PLACE
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			WAKEFIELD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01880

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FRANKLIN STREET PARTNERS LP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20010301

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRIBBELL WILLIAM W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001244623

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-32470
		FILM NUMBER:		08670434

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 EDGEWATER PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			WAKEFIELD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01880
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7815571300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		401 EDGEWATER PLACE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 200
		CITY:			WAKEFIELD
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01880
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001031316</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FRANKLIN STREET PROPERTIES CORP /MA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FSP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001244623</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRIBBELL WILLIAM W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>401 EDGEWATER PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WAKEFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01880</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>133212</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>133212</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Comprised of 129,616 shares owned by Mr. Gribbell individually, 2,000 shares owned by Mr. Gribbell in an IRA account for his benefit and 1,596 shares owned by Mr. Gribbell's spouse.  Mr. Gribbell disclaims beneficial ownership of the 1,596 shares owned by his spouse in an IRA account for her benefit.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William W. Gribell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
