Our colleague Ken Gosselin reports today that the city has proposed “Downtown North” — a city-owned, three-acre plot of land — as the new site for the University of Connecticut campus that is being relocated from West Hartford. The city would lease the parcel for $1 a year.
From Gosselin’s post:
“A university presence will create an institutional bookend to the benefits of residents and businesses by cultivating community along downtown’s border with the North End neighborhoods,” [Development Services Director Thomas] Deller wrote.
The land targeted by the city is located near both the Capital Preparatory Magnet School, the Rensselaer at Hartford Graduate Center and Capital Community College. Downtown North also has been an area targeted for new housing.
The city’s proposal is one of 13 submitted to UConn, which announced in November that it plans to move its Greater Hartford branch to downtown Hartford within a year after facing $25 million worth of repairs and renovations to its West Hartford campus.
Gosselin reported this week that Front Street developer HB Nitkin Group wants UConn to move into the former Hartford Times building on Prospect Street, while Alan Lazowski of LAZ Parking has proposed constructing a new building on an existing parking lot on Main Street, next to the G. Fox building.
What do you think? Which Hartford location makes best sense for the city, students and local businesses?
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3 Responses to ‘Downtown North’ Future Home Of UConn Campus?
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The Hartford Times building would keep the school hidden and out of view to those intering the city by car or bus. Building it next to the old G. Fox building where the Capital Community College and Capital Preparatory Magnet high school, would make this a Education Corridor in downtown Hartford.
I agree…the hartford times building is not quite the best fit.
The site known as 12B could provide a comprehensive educational campus setting, incorporating UCONN,Capital Prep, the Graduate Center and Capital Community College into a plan that includes housing, retail, parking and other amenities to make Hartford a viable city with night life and entertainment for students and residents.