The University of New Haven is officially the owner of the remaining 46 acres of the former Hubbell parcel on Wheelers Farm Road.{{more}}
Recently the educational institution closed on the property for $3.025 million.
The purchase includes three office buildings, totaling 70,000 square feet along with surface and underground parking. Those buildings will be converted into classrooms, computer labs, and faculty offices.
UNH Media Relations representative Karen Grava said the campus will become active by fall.
“Some students may be on campus as early as fall but renovations will not be completed until January.”
She declined to offer a specific number of students the campus will see.
“The number of students will grow over time,” Grava said.
In 2011, Orange bought 346 acres of the property for $7.1 million to be used as open space.
In 2010, Hubbell announced plans to develop the property into 226 housing units. That plan was met with strong resistance.
UNH President Steven Kaplan praised town officials for helping to make the expansion possible.
“Orange has been wonderful to work with, and we are really looking forward to being part of the community,” he said. “Hubbell was very accommodating and helped us bring this tremendous resource to UNH.”
The university plans to grow and enhance several of its graduate programs at the new branch campus, which will help alleviate space issues on the main campus in West Haven.
Additionally, the graduate facilities may be used for hosting academic conferences and other events.
According to a UNH press release the purchase was subsidized by former graduates Carles Pompea of Jupiter, Fla., and Samuel S. Bergami Jr. of Milford.
“Their generous contributions help make UNH’s vision a reality,” Kaplan said.
Pompea is a former vice chairman of the UNH Board of Governors. He is the majority owner of the Springfield Falcons hockey team and the former president and chief executive officer of Primary Steel, Inc. in Middletown.
Bergami is the president and chief executive officer of Alinabal Holdings Corp. and is a longtime member and former chairman of the UNH Board of Governors.
According to the release both men have contributed to numerous projects at UNH.