The Torrington City Council on Oct. 20 voted to amend the land-lease arrangement with the 5 Points Center for Visual Arts to accelerate the organization's option to purchase the city-owned parcel on University Drive, and authorized the mayor to negotiate and execute any documents needed to complete the transaction, including addressing the remaining payoff to the University of Connecticut.

The original lease, entered after UConn's campus closure, contained staged benchmarks and an option to purchase remaining city-owned acreage for $1 after a 20-year period contingent on meeting benchmarks tied to sustainability. 5 Points' representatives presented a five-year benchmark report showing faster-than-expected progress and asked the council to allow the option to be exercised now rather than wait the remaining years.

During extensive council discussion, several members said they were impressed by 5 Points' accomplishments but hesitated to approve a substantive conveyance so close to an upcoming change in administration. Concerns included long-term protections should 5 Points be unable to operate the property in the future. Legal staff and others noted the existing lease already contains reversionary language if 5 Points fails to operate continuously for the required period; council members discussed whether inserting additional deed protections or rights of first refusal would be appropriate.

The motion ultimately as amended required that the mayor be authorized to negotiate and execute conveyance documents that would address the remaining $25,000 owed toward the property acquisition price previously tied to cell-tower revenue (the council's memo noted $75,000 had already been paid against a $100,000 acquisition price). The amended motion passed on a voice vote. The council directed staff and corporation counsel to work with 5 Points to prepare final documents for conveyance and to ensure reversionary protections and payoff negotiations are handled as part of the transfer.

5 Points representatives at the meeting, including Judy McElhone and board chair Eric Forsman, described plans to expand programming, an art park with sculptures and public accessibility improvements, and increased engagement with schools. Council members and staff discussed transportation and programming barriers for students and encouraged further partnerships with the Board of Education and regional transit to improve access.

The motion authorizing negotiation and execution of documents was carried; details of the final conveyance, exact reversion language and payoff timing will be finalized by staff and brought to closing as required.