Wells Campus named by LSWNY a “Five to Revive” in 2025!

Poster from the press conference, 13 March 2025

On March 13, The Landmark Society of Western New York (LSWNY) named the Wells College campus to its 2025 Five to Revive—a list that identifies opportunities for targeted strategic revitalization. The Wells Legacy Society played a significant role in achieving this status for our beloved campus by gaining the attention and support of several non-profit preservation organizations and the State Historic Preservation Office. 

The LSWNY is one of the oldest and most active preservation organizations in America. Formed in 1937, the LSWNY works to protect the unique architectural heritage of the region and promote preservation and planning principles that foster healthy and sustainable communities. 

The Five to Revive list calls attention to sites across the region in need of rehabilitation. Through this list, the organization strives to facilitate investment and to protect our area’s architectural heritage, working with owners, developers, investors, and other partners to create connections and reactivate buildings within their communities. The list encourages dialogue and partnerships, recognizing that these resources in need represent catalytic opportunities.

Andrew Roblee, President of the Preservation Association of Central New York and an alumnus of our alma mater, spoke on behalf of Wells at the Five to Revive presentation in Rochester wearing his Wells cap and odd-line color!

Andrew Roblee, President of PACNY

The Five to Revive listing reads:
After 156 years of operation, Wells College on the shores of Cayuga Lake announced its closure and listing for sale this past year. The college is home to many National Register buildings, including an 1852 Tuscan villa, 1858 Gothic Revival home, and the 1890 brick main building. The 1968 Brutalist library has also been designated as a local historic landmark. 
Unfortunately, as part of the closure Wells College decided against turning on the heat in many of its buildings this winter, and they also turned off all water and drained the pipes, creating potential for mildew and rot as well as damage to structures and artifacts. There is no way of knowing the true damage until the end of winter, but we encourage better care of the site, both by its current trustees and future owner. The college’s historically significant architecture has made it a key landmark for the Village of Aurora. 
The campus is currently up for sale by CBRE of Syracuse, and Cayuga County has assessed the campus at $8.5 million. Nearby colleges have been notified, and there appears to be some initial interest for use as a boarding school, while other ideas are being circulated among advocate groups.  For now, the duty to protect the college’s significant physical assets falls to the college’s trustees, and their decisions will impact the local community. The economies of small college towns, especially those in primarily rural areas, are highly tied to the activities of the college and its students. Better care and rehabilitation of this historic campus could stimulate the local economy by providing jobs and generating business.