ORANGE, CT — Aspire Living & Learning announced Oct. 2 that it had completed the Sept. 28 purchase of a 47-acre campus formerly used as a satellite site by the University of New Haven, at 584 Derby Milford Road. The property will be home to ALL Academy, its private special education school, the nonprofit’s community-based adult day program, and Connecticut administrative offices now in Hamden.
The nonprofit, which serves neurodivergent children and adults, said in a press release that the campus will give it room to expand special education and adult services in the state. Financial terms of the purchase have not been disclosed.
Renovations Planned Ahead of Summer 2027 Start
The campus includes a 70,680-square-foot building. Aspire will renovate it over the coming year to create separate spaces for each program, with programming expected to begin in summer 2027. The organization has not disclosed the renovation cost.
Aspire’s ALL Academy sites in Naugatuck and Stamford will remain in place. Patch reported that the school’s primary Connecticut location will serve students in kindergarten through 12th grade who have emotional, intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as offer transition programs for young adults. Aspire attorney Joe Williams said the site, formerly used for the University of New Haven’s graduate business school, needs only interior renovations.
Orange Approved the School’s Special Permit
On June 16, Orange’s Town Plan and Zoning Commission approved a zoning change by a 5-0 vote, Patch reported. The revision permits nonprofit schools for students and adults with emotional, intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Office Park District through a special permit, and became effective June 26.
The commission then voted 5-0 to approve Aspire’s special permit for the Derby Milford Road site. Commissioners granted site plan and architectural waivers because no exterior construction is proposed. Aspire’s attorney told the commission students would primarily arrive in small vans and traffic would be comparable to the prior university use.