West Hartford Considers Purchase of UConn Campus

West Hartford can begin negotiations to purchase the UConn campus property after receiving unanimous approval from the town council earlier this week.

The town hasn’t decided yet if it will actually purchase the property, but the state requires that UConn gives the town the first opportunity to buy the land and a separate vote will be needed to complete the purchase, according to the Hartford Courant.

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Town Manager Ron Van Winkle now has the authorization to begin negotiations and he said the town is currently studying the site and has hired engineers to review the wetlands and other environmental aspects.

UConn plans to vacate the 58-acre site next year and move to the former Hartford Times building in downtown Hartford.

We-Ha.com reports that following Tuesday’s vote, the town had 60 days to come to an agreement on the terms of a purchase.

Non-profit organizations, such as the New Children’s Museum, have expressed interest in the site, which is currently zoned single-family residential with a special-use permit in place that allows it to be used as a school, according to We-Ha.com.

Read more at the Hartford Courant here and We-Ha.com here.