West Hartford Town Manager Provides Update on UConn Property

Town Manager Ron Van Winkle provided an update Tuesday as to what will become of the 57-acre University of Connecticut property if the school branch follows through on its plans to relocate the campus to Hartford.

Van Winkle said at the Town Council’s meeting that, while the school’s planned move isn’t a “done deal,” UConn was working to purchase the Hartford Times building and redevelop that site.

“We’re not looking at a 2014 move,” Van Winkle said. “It’s in the 2015 phase at the earliest.”

Van Winkle noted that, while the site comprises 57 acres, there are flood areas and wetlands on it.

Furthermore, the property is zoned for single family residential, Van Winkle said.

The state owns the property and there has been no indication as to whether it will sell the land and, if so, to whom, Van Winkle said.

Corporation Counsel Joseph O’Brien said that his office is researching whether the town has the right of first refusal if the state decides to sell.

“It’s an incredibly unique opportunity for us in West Hartford,” Van Winkle said. “You don’t see 57 acres of land in the center of the community become available very often. I’d love to see a new tax base there so [the town] can grow. But it’s something you will spend a lot of time on.”

Van Winkle said that town staff was already mapping out what could go in the site, but that public input was necessary.

“I would expect we will see a lot of discussion on this project in the coming year,” Van Winkle said.

UConn announced it was moving into downtown Hartford in November 2012. The university recently announced that it selected the Hartford Times building, with a planned opening for 2016.