The property is in the following municipal zone(s):

Residential Industrial  Commercial  Institutional
 Other:  Special Exceptions granted for Educational, Cultural, Religious, Child Care, Philanthropic, Social & Fraternal Uses (Use Category 2.00) and Other Outdoor Activities (Use Category 6.99)

Not zoned  Not known

Special features of the property, if known:  The Campus Property includes the Classroom Building and the Extension Center, as well as a parking lot and a cell tower.  The Classroom Building and the Extension Center are approximately 29,446 and 7,776 square feet, respectively.

Value of property, if known:
If checked, value is not known.

Links to other available information: Additional information about the Campus Property can be found at the University’s website.  The link is: https://evpacfo.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/2318/2018/05/Torrington_Campus_-RFEI.pdf.

Type of Sale or Transfer:

Sale or transfer of property in fee

Sale or transfer of partial interest in the property (such as an easement).  Description of interest:

Proposed recipient, if known: UConn has entered into two Purchase and Sale Agreements with Five Points relating to the sale of the Campus Property.  Five Points has the right to assign its right to purchase the Unimproved Land to the City of Torrington.  UConn understands that the City of Torrington intends to acquire the Unimproved Land from Five Points and, upon such acquisition by the City, grant Five Points the right to use the Unimproved Land.  Neither UConn nor the State of Connecticut will be a party to those transactions.

Proposed use by property recipient, if known:  UConn’s sale of the Campus Property to Five Points is conditioned on Five Points granting UConn the right to continue to use the Extension Center and certain other portions of the Campus Property for the continuation of UConn programs, such as the continued operation of the Extension Center as an agricultural center in furtherance of UConn’s support of agricultural activities in Litchfield County and the operation of a wind tower for certain research activities.

The remainder of the Campus Property will be used by Five Points to establish an art and education campus, which is expected to include some or all of the following contemplated uses:

• Art gallery;
• Art classes for children, teenagers, adults, families and senior citizens;
• Artist workshop spaces (such as printmaking, darkroom, painting and drawing space);
• Launchpad Expansion program, including skills and employment training for young art professionals;
• Sensory Garden located in courtyard of Building 1;
• Hosting lectures;
• Educational, cultural, philanthropic and social events, such as job fairs, art fairs, ceremonies and receptions, which may be located indoors or outdoors;
• Accessory store for the provision of supplies, books, and other related goods to employees, students, and visitors of both UConn and Five Points;
• Accessory office use and café use for employees, students, and visitors of both UConn and Five Points.

  In addition to the above, Five Points also desires, in the future, to render the remaining 85± undeveloped acres of 855 University Drive accessible to its employees, students, and visitors, in a manner that both respects and enhances the natural beauty of that acreage.  Currently the Unimproved Land has no recreational features and is not widely accessible to the public.  Contemplated future uses include an art park, sensory sculpture gardens, environmental installations, landscape designs, and walking trails.  It is contemplated that these future uses will be available to the public.  These enhancements and increased public access is planned to occur regardless of whether the Unimproved Land is acquired directly by Five Points or is acquired by the City of Torrington.
  
  The agency is proposing to transfer the property with the following restrictions on future uses:  UConn is reserving the right to continue to occupy and use the Extension Center building from Five Points and certain portions of the Campus Property for ongoing research activities pursuant to a lease agreement that will be entered into between UConn and Five Points at or prior the sale’s closing.  The reservation of rights relating to UConn’s continued use of the Extension Center is also subject to certain orders entered into on September 16, 2019 by the Connecticut Superior Court (Shaban, J.). Except for these reserved uses of the Extension Center and Campus Property by UConn, UConn is not proposing any other restrictions on future uses of the Campus Property.
  If checked, the state is not currently proposing restrictions on future uses.
  
  Reason the State of Connecticut is proposing to transfer this property:  UConn has closed its Torrington branch campus operations and ceases to have any use for the Campus Property, except with respect to the Extension Center.  By transferring the Campus Property, UConn will reduce the expenses it incurs to continue to maintain and operate the Campus Property, including the Classroom Building.  The transfer of the Campus Property also provides an opportunity for the Classroom Building to be reutilized in a manner that benefits the City of Torrington and the surrounding community.
  
  Comments from the public are welcome and will be accepted until the close of business on November 7, 2019.

  
  Comments may include (but are not limited to) information you might have about significant natural resources or recreation resources on the property, as well as your recommendations for means to preserve such resources.

  
  Written comments* should be sent to:

*E-Mail submissions are preferred.  (Comments from state agencies must be on agency letterhead and signed by agency head.  Scanned copies are preferred.)

What Happens Next?

To find out if this proposed transfer is the subject of further notices, check future editions of the Environmental Monitor. Sign up for e-alerts to receive a reminder e-mail on Environmental Monitor publication dates.