Notes on Latest Court Hearing
Photo June 2024 © Ken Larson
Summary: The Cayuga County Supreme Court, Hon. Darius K. Lind presiding, resolved two of the three Wells College petitions pending before it, in a hearing convened April 8 at 10:30 a.m. The court is prepared to enter final orders approving the sales of off-campus (docket #E2026-0090) and campus (docket #E2026-0091) real estate. The off-campus real estate includes the Paul Jones House. The matter of the auction or donation of the College’s “personal property” — the art work, rare books, artifacts — (docket #E2026-0086) is continued to May 27, 2026 at 9:30 a.m.
Details:
During the hearing, Assistant Attorney General Timothy Mulvey announced that the AG had no objection to the proposed sale of Wells College’s off-campus or campus real estate. The resolution of the two real estate petitions is all-but-final, at least with respect to the Cayuga County Supreme Court. Attorney Frank Payti, representing the Wells College Board of Trustees, was charged with preparing final orders for the court to review and sign. These orders will be submitted in a day or so, with court review and entry to follow soon after.
Attorney Payti informed the court that the College was still working with the New York State Department of Education to resolve its objection to the proposed auction of the College’s arts and cultural personal property. AAG Mulvey noted that his office had received expressions of community interest in this matter.
The Cayuga Nation, which had sought to intervene as a party to object to the sale of the campus, has filed its appeal of Judge Lind’s denial of its motion to intervene. If it seeks and obtains a stay of the final judgment, then the closing on the sale of the campus could be postponed. (The appeal has no effect on the off-campus real estate.) But this is entirely “speculative” at this time, as Judge Lind observed at the hearing. It is simply too early to predict what, if anything, will happen with Cayuga Nation’s appeal.
— Kathleen Dooley, Esq.
Board member, Wells Legacy Society
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THE CITIZEN
Robert Harding, April 8, 2026
Wells College clears hurdles to sell Aurora campus, other properties
Wells College is expected to receive court approval to sell its 127-acre campus and other properties in Aurora.
At a conference on Wednesday, state Supreme Court Judge Darius Lind directed Frank Patyi, the college's attorney, to submit proposed orders to the court allowing the sale of the campus and seven off-campus properties. Barring any issues, Lind is expected to sign the orders, which could happen by the end of this week.
Timothy Mulvey, an assistant state attorney general, said his office does not object to the property sales, clearing the way for the court's approval.
The campus will be sold to the Hiawatha Institute for Indigenous Knowledge, which Patyi said was the high bidder and is moving toward closing on its purchase. The Hiawatha Institute will pay $12.5 million to acquire the campus. Wells College's estimated net proceeds will be more than $11.8 million after closing costs, according to court filings.
Patyi told the court Wells College will use the funds to replenish its endowment. About 16 years ago, the college received court authorization to borrow from its endowment. But the college must repay those funds before they are transferred to Hobart and William Smith Colleges, which is Wells' legacy partner.
After Wells College filed its petition seeking court approval of the campus sale, two parties — the Cayuga Nation and the Minerva Institute, the latter of which was a losing bidder — submitted motions to intervene in the case. The Cayuga Nation raised questions about the Hiawatha Institute's plans, while the Minerva Institute argued it did not have an opportunity to match or top the institute's bid.
Lind denied the motions on Monday. The Cayuga Nation is appealing the decision.
During the same conference, Lind asked Patyi to prepare a proposed order for the sale of seven off-campus properties in Aurora. The attorney general's office does not object to the transactions.
Two of the properties — Wavebank, at 245 Main St., and Fairlane Apartments, 10 Woods End — will be purchased by Pleasant Rowland. Rowland, a Wells College alumna who is best known as the creator of the American Girl brand, will $1,025,000 to acquire the properties.
Rowland had a right of first refusal on the Wells College campus, but waived that to allow the sale to the Hiawatha Institute.
The other off-campus properties that will be sold include the A. Hickey House, 237 Main St., for $650,000 and the Hollcroft House, 246 Main St., for $456,000.
The Brownell House, 11 Wells Road, will be purchased for $310,000. The sale price for Brightman Cottage, 30 Wells Road, is $150,000.
A nonprofit group, the Paul Jones House Preservation Alliance, will pay $277,175 to acquire the Paul Jones House at 326 Main St. The sale had already been announced by the college.
After closing costs, Wells College estimates its net proceeds from the sales will be over $2.6 million.
The one matter not resolved is Wells College's proposed sale of other possessions, such as artwork and rare books. The college has contracted with auction houses to sell the items, but must receive court approval.
The New York State Education Department has objected to Wells College's attempt to sell the valuable assets. Patyi told the court that the college is working with the department, but has not reached a resolution.
Despite the lack of the action on the sale of other possessions, the conference was a significant step in Wells College's closure process.
Wells announced two years ago, in April 2024, that it would close at the end of the academic year. Later that year, it hired the real estate broker CBRE to market the campus.
The college issued a call for offers in early 2025 and received multiple bids, some of which — including the Hiawatha Institute — were made public.
In December, the Hiawatha Institute was notified that Wells College accepted its $12.5 million offer. The institute plans to establish an Indigenous college there and redevelop other parts of campus.
