UConn’s West Hartford campus is closing. The university’s board of trustees voted Wednesday to approve moving the campus to downtown Hartford.
The West Hartford satellite campus has spent the last 40 years off the corner of Troutbrook Road and Asylum Avenue. The campus is now returning to the city where it first opened in 1939.
"The whole point in doing this is to get feet on the street. And the best way we can do this is to share other facilities with other institutions in the area," said the university’s master planner and chief architect Laura Cruickshank.
The campus will move to the old Hartford Times building on Prospect Avenue. Board officials say the plan is to restore the historic front of the building, add an atrium, two office and classroom buildings and a courtyard.
"So the other proposal today that was approved was buying a building at 38 Prospect Street and that’s all within the $115 million budget that we have had for the last year and a half," said Cruickshank.
It’s a project some students believe is worth the money.
"I think it’ll be a great opportunity for students to get into the city and get volunteer opportunities," said sophomore Brandon Gothoberg.
Other students are concerned with the parking and traffic issues of downtown Hartford.
"A lot of people are going to be late to class. I think they should keep it here because we have our own parking lot. I mean, where are we going to find place in Hartford?" wondered Smith Scott, a freshman.
To solve that problem, the university has a deal with nearby parking garages. School officials are also discussing giving students a pass with CT Transit, which would allow them free bus rides during the school year.
The new campus plans to open in the fall of 2017.
