Proposed Disposition of the University of Connecticut Greater Hartford Campus

1. Notice of Scoping for Proposed Disposition of the University of Connecticut Greater Hartford Campus

Municipality where proposed project might be located: West Hartford

Address of Possible Project Location: 85 Lawler Road, 1345 Trout Brook Drive, and 1796-1800 Asylum Ave., West Hartford, CT

Project Description: The Greater Hartford campus is currently situated on 58 acres and includes the Harleigh B. Tracker Library; the Information Technology Center building; the School of Social Work building; the Undergraduate building; and a Facilities Operations building. The campus also includes surface parking for 1,050 vehicles and intramural playing fields. It currently serves approximately 1,400 undergraduate and 1,520 full- and part-time graduate students. In addition, there are approximately 410 faculty and other affiliated or non-affiliated staff utilizing the facilities.

The operations of UConn’s Greater Hartford campus are moving to the City of Hartford at a site anchored by the former Hartford Times building. Final agreements to authorize the move were signed on June 3, 2014, and construction will start in late 2015 or early 2016. Classes are expected to begin as early as fall 2017.

Possible disposition for the current Greater Hartford (i.e., West Hartford) campus might include, but not be limited to, the following or any combination thereof:

Demolition of campus improvements
Stabilizing and securing campus buildings and grounds (e.g., mothballing)
Reuse by an institute of higher education
Reuse and/or redevelopment by a state agency or municipality
Redevelopment for commercial and/or residential use
No action (remains an active UConn campus).

Considerations include, but are not limited to, the socio-economic linkages with the nearby Bishop's Corner neighborhood and the entire Town of West Hartford; consistency with the local, regional, and state plans of conservation and development; future use and disposal of hazardous materials; campus areas within the floodplain/floodway of Trout Brook; and wetlands.

Note: The University received written confirmation from CT Office of Policy and Management that an Environmental Impact Evaluation is not required for the redevelopment of the abandoned Hartford Times office building for educational use (LINK to letter).

Project Maps: Click here to view a map of the project area. Click here to view a map of the existing campus.

There will be a Public Scoping Meeting for this proposed action at:

Date: August 12, 2014

Time: 7:00 PM (Doors open at 6:30 PM)

Place: Zachs Community Room, School of Social Work Building, UConn Greater Hartford Campus, 1798 Asylum Ave., West Hartford, CT

Directions: (link to Google Maps for directions)

Written comments from the public on the nature and extent of the possible listed actions are welcomed and will be accepted until the close of business on: August 17, 2014.

Written comments should be sent to:

Name: Jason Coite

Agency: University of Connecticut

Address: 31 LeDoyt Road, Storrs, CT

Fax: 860-486-5477

E-Mail: jason.coite@uconn.edu

If you have questions about the Public Scoping Meeting, or other questions about the scoping for this project, contact: