Good news: NYS responds to Concerns about an Unheated Historic Campus
Here’s the story…
Last month, the WLS wrote NYS Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan, expressing concern about the BoT’s plan to leave the college unheated all winter. An aide responded that the Assemblyman shared our concerns, and would pass them on to his contact in the NYS Dept. of State.
Soon we heard back that our concerns were being “escalated” to Governor Hochul’s Office!
Last week, at the behest of the Governor, the head of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) began to look into the situation. He called a WLS officer for an update on what the heck was happening in Aurora.
After that conversation and several subsequent email exchanges with the WLS, the head of SHPO decided to share his understanding of the risk to the National Register buildings on the Wells campus directly with the Office of the Attorney General in Syracuse.
This is terrific progress in bringing to the AG’s attention the irreparable harm that will occur to our historic campus if left without heat!
And here’s the letter going out to concerned parties from the SHPO…
Thank you for writing Governor Hochul concerning the closure of Wells College and the risks imposed on this National Register of Historic Places-listed campus from the potential failure to adequately heat or appropriately shut down water and heating infrastructure on the campus. As I oversee the Division for Historic Preservation at the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, I have been asked to respond on her behalf.
My office does not yet have any regulatory role in matters at the Wells College campus in Aurora, but I have been discussing the development and status of this issue with an officer of the Wells Legacy Society. At this time, it is the Attorney General’s Office that has the major state role on site. I have reached out to the Office of Attorney General to express my office’s concern for the proposed mothballing of the campus and I would encourage you and other parties to seek a meeting with the OAG staff in Syracuse to further engage them with your concerns.
Additionally, I would encourage you to reach out to two historic preservation advocacy groups. Wayne Goodman, Executive Director at the Landmark Society of Western New York (wgoodman@landmarksociety.org) and Jay Dilorenzo at the Preservation League of New York State (jdilorenzo@preservenys.org). Both organizations are in a position to provide assistance with publicizing your concerns and providing further technical assessments that may aid in your concerns being understood and heard.
I will continue to monitor this matter with my local contact and welcome additional correspondence with you as well. The National Register status of the campus is a significant asset for any future redevelopment, as that status is a gateway for federal and state grants and tax credits that could assist new owners and uses. It would be a shame for an ill-conceived or executed care-taking plan for the campus to negatively impact the historic assets that offer the campus the most appropriate path forward.
Regards,
Daniel R. Daniel Mackay (He/Him/His)
Deputy Commissioner for Historic Preservation
Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
New York State Office of Parks Recreation and Historic Preservation
Division of Historic Preservation
https://www.parks.ny.gov/shpo/contact/
