A law firm representing Wells College claims the village of Aurora "has repeatedly attempted to obstruct the college's efforts to wind down" after its closure announcement in April.聽
The accusation was included in a letter from Bond, Schoeneck & King, a Syracuse law firm that represents Wells College, opposing the proposed designation of three college properties as local landmarks.聽
The village's Community Preservation Panel voted this month to recommend the Barler Recital Hall and Campbell Arts Building as local landmarks. The five-member board also voted to advance the nomination of the Wells College Boathouse lawn, which is on the Cayuga Lake shoreline, as a scenic landmark.聽
Aurora residents Bill and Laurie Roberts 聽for the distinction. They note in a letter the buildings were designed by famed architect Walter Netsch, who also designed the college's Long Library. Netsch was a Chicago-based architect with the Skidmore, Owings & Merrill firm.聽
People are also reading…
Andrew Roblee, a Wells alumnus and president of the Preservation Association of Central New York, endorsed the nomination. He explained the buildings are "the work of an internationally renowned architect whose innovative approach, known as Field Theory, created structures uniquely suited to their purpose and environment."聽
"Campbell and Barler, completed in 1974, were conceived as companions to Netsch's landmarked Long Library, forming a unified architectural ensemble," Roblee wrote. "Their harmonious integration with the campus's natural setting demonstrates Netsch's sensitivity to environmental design."聽
He added, "We urge the Community Preservation Panel to recognize the historical, architectural and cultural significance of these buildings by granting them local landmark designation."聽
The panel received letters from Wells alumni and residents supporting the local landmark designation and scenic landmark status for the Wells College Boathouse lawn. Wells College appears to be the sole opponent of the proposal.聽
Brody Smith, an attorney with Bond, Schoeneck & King, to the Community Preservation Panel that Barler and Campbell are "unremarkable brick institutional buildings" and aren't associated with significant national, state or local historic events. He acknowledges they were designed by Netsch, but adds the architect had "no local connections."聽
Regarding the boathouse lawn, Smith questioned whether it has any architectural or historic significance.聽
According to Smith, it was known that Wells College would oppose designating the buildings and lawn as local landmarks because it "could result in the college's loss of its reasonable investment backed expectations for the properties." The college is selling the campus, which includes the Barler and Campbell buildings.聽
"Specifically, designating the properties as village landmarks would create a serious financial hardship to Wells College as it would interfere with the sale of the properties to a ready, willing and able buyer for a financially reasonable amount because such designation would prevent the properties from being economically developed by anyone," Smith wrote.聽
He continued, "As a result, designation of the properties as village landmarks would amount to an unconstitutional taking of the properties."聽
Despite the college's opposition, the Community Preservation Panel advanced the nominations. The Aurora Village Board voted to continue the process and set a public hearing on the proposed landmarks for Feb. 19.聽
The episode highlights the rift between the college and village, the latter of which is planning for post-Wells Aurora. There was progress聽when the village board held a special meeting in November, but that appears to have changed now that the village is pursuing landmark status for these college-owned properties.聽
Series: Complete coverage of Wells College closing
水果派AV's complete coverage of Wells College's closure and new developments as the institution winds down operations in Aurora.聽
A purchase offer has been approved, moving the village closer to acquiring the water plant.
A group behind a $10.7 million offer to buy the Wells College campus will present its plan for the property at a meeting next week.
An interview with the developer behind a $10.7 million offer to buy the Wells College campus in Aurora.
A partnership is proposing the creation of an Indigenous college and senior housing on the former Wells College campus.
Wells College has received "multiple offers" to buy its 127-acre campus, the board of trustees announced Friday.
The entities behind two offers to buy the Wells College campus detail their plans.聽
A call for offers has been issued to parties interested in buying the Wells College campus.聽
Pleasant Rowland holds a right of first refusal on several Wells College-owned properties, including the campus.聽
A public meeting was held on the sale of the Wells College campus in Aurora.聽
Wells College has scheduled a presentation on the sale of the Aurora campus.聽
The village of Aurora and Wells College are engaging in conversations about issues of mutual interest.聽
A group of Wells College alumni says the Aurora campus is "at risk of irreparable harm" due to actions by the college's leadership.聽
Wells College is moving forward with plans to sell its 300-acre campus and most of its non-real estate assets.聽
A nonprofit is proposing the creation of an Indigenous college on the former Wells College campus in Aurora.聽
The village of Aurora is preparing to take over the water plant, but Wells College has not signed an agreement to transfer ownership of the facility.聽
An Ithaca investment banker has pitched his idea to transform Wells College into a boarding school.聽
The village of Aurora altered one of its proposed Downtown Revitalization Initiative projects after Wells College decided to sell the property at 165 Main St.聽
An audit found Wells College lost more than $6 million over two years before it closed in June.聽
Four months since its closure announcement, here is where Wells College stands in its wind-down process.聽
AURORA聽鈥 The theme of this year's AuroraFest was an obvious choice.
A union representing former faculty members at Wells College is accusing the Aurora institution of unfair labor practices.聽
Peachtown Elementary School is taking the next steps to ensure it stays on the former Wells College campus in Aurora.聽
For more than 60 former Wells College students, they did not have to look far for a new school.聽
A former Wells College professor has stepped down from her seat on the Moravia Central School District Board of Education in order to take a t…
A Wells College alumni group is hoping to get answers to questions about the school's closure in a meeting with the institution's leadership this week.聽
Wells College is selling a house that's part of the village of Aurora's Downtown Revitalization Initiative plan.聽
Wells College failed to provide information about the closure after repeated requests, the institution's former accreditor says.聽
As you can imagine, in a small community, the closing of Wells College has been very painful.
Aurora Mayor Jim Orman and Dr. Heather MacAdam have visions for how to reuse certain Wells College properties.聽
A year before Wells College announced it would close, the Aurora institution had a net loss of $3.2 million as declining enrollment continued to take a toll.聽
The village of Aurora is urging Cayuga County's federal and state representatives to support a "one-campus" sale or transfer of Wells College.聽
Wells College has named a new president who will oversee the process of shuttering the 156-year-old Aurora institution.聽
Wells College closed Sunday after 156 years.聽
A Wells College alumni group may file a lawsuit if the school does not cooperate with its request for more information about the institution's closure.聽
For eight of its nine years, the Aurora Farmers Market has occupied space at the Wells College Boathouse. That won't change, at least for this year.聽
The Middle States Commission on Higher Education said Thursday that Wells College has not complied with requests for information about where its institutional and student records will be stored.聽
Wells College has "parted ways" with Jonathan Gibralter, who served as the institution's president since 2015.聽
Wells College alumnae have formed a group to preserve the institution's legacy in Aurora and the Finger Lakes region.聽
As the New York State Attorney General's Office begins to determine what will happen to Wells College's properties, an online petition is sugg…
An accreditor has taken action in response to Wells College's plan to close at the end of the academic year.聽
The village of Aurora and Wells College are in the early stages of planning how to keep the on-campus water treatment plant operational after the college closes this year.聽
AUBURN 鈥 The Schweinfurth Art Center usually has a friendly relationship with works of fiber art, but last month the rug was pulled out from u…
The story behind the decision to have faculty, not Wells College President Jonathan Gibralter, present degrees to graduates at the school's final commencement.聽
At the final commencement in Wells College's 156-year history, the school's president relinquished nearly all of his speaking roles and sat behind faculty and staff.聽
Wells College has reached agreements that would allow students to choose from two dozen schools to continue their education.聽
Wells College capped off its 156-year history with its final commencement Saturday.
A nonprofit organization has contacted Wells College to gauge the leadership's interest in helping the 156-year-old institution remain open.聽
From internship opportunities to a great return on investment, Manhattanville University President Frank Sanchez highlights what his institution offers to Wells College students seeking to continue their education.
水果派AV interviewed or received messages from more than 20 Wells College alumnae who shared memories and their thoughts about the college's sudden closure announcement.聽
After Wells College announced that it will close at the end of this semester, Dr. Heather MacAdam's patients at the campus medical center had higher blood pressure than normal.
In January, Wells College told 水果派AV the school had "no plans to close at the end of the semester."聽
Wells College President Jonathan Gibralter was paid more than his counterparts at similarly sized institutions and received over $300,000 in bonuses, tax filings show.聽
Wells College has notified the state Department of Labor of the job cuts due to the Aurora institution's closure after the spring semester.聽
The Aurora Farmers Market will return for its ninth season beginning Saturday, May 25, on the lawn of the Wells College boathouse on Route 90 …
One question about Wells College's closure is how it will affect Peachtown Elementary School, which has been on the Aurora institution's campus since 1992.聽
On its website, Wells College has responded to frequently asked questions about its closure.聽
AURORA聽鈥 The Wells College women's lacrosse team won its first championship in its last season.
Wells College is being criticized for not timely notifying its accreditor that it will close and not properly planning for its closure.聽
Three organizations are collaborating to inform Wells College students about their legal rights after the school announced it will close at the end of the semester.聽
Wells College notified the state Education Department of its plan to close before a public announcement Monday, but the timing highlights how quickly the decision was made.聽
"It's just important to show that we can win, and that we will win for the last lacrosse season at Wells.鈥
An Aurora church opened its doors to give Wells College employees and students a forum to express their feelings about the school's closure.聽
The United Ministry of Aurora hosted a Wells College Lament on Tuesday.
The village of Aurora and Cayuga County lost one of the area's historic gems this week with the announcement of the closure of Wells College, …
Wells College will close at the end of the spring semester due to declining enrollment and financial struggles.聽
Cayuga County leaders react to Wells College's announcement that it will close at the end of the spring semester.聽
After 156 years, Wells College in Aurora will close at the end of the spring semester.聽
The lakeside campus of Wells College in Aurora was serene as ever Monday afternoon, with birds chirping among the spring blooms.
Tax records show the losses Wells College incurred over the years and how it was boosted, temporarily, by donations and other aid.聽
Government reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 664-4631 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on X @RobertHarding.
In this Series
Series: Continuing coverage of Wells College closing and impact on Aurora
Robert Harding
Online producer/politics reporter
