Allston Anticipation

The University explores co-development in Allston that might help fund science research there, and possibly a move by the Harvard School of Public Health.

The site of the Allston science complex, where construction came to a halt in 2010.

In mid March, Harvard president Drew Faust sent a letter to Allston residents reporting that all but one of Harvard’s marketable retail properties in the community had been rented. She wrote also that an Allston “work team has been gathering information from a range of sources both inside and outside the University to help determine the best route to resumed development for the Western Avenue site, which will undoubtedly be tied to one or more science-based uses, and options for development and co-development around that anchor project.”

Because the University owns an enormous amount of land in Allston, co-development would likely take the form of ground leases to commercial developers on parcels farthest from the planned campus, perhaps near the Massachusetts Turnpike. Conceivably, Harvard could use payments on the leased land to fund a series of bonds issued to finance its share of whatever is built—at the halted University laboratory site or elsewhere nearby. There is strong demand worldwide for new biotechnology development, interest rates are at historic lows, and Allston—because of its proximity to Harvard, MIT, and Boston’s teaching hospitals—is a desirable location. 

What exactly might Harvard want to build? One scenario could involve the unmet space needs of the Harvard School of Public Health. Other institutions in the Longwood Medical Area, including Northeastern University, the Harvard teaching hospitals, Harvard Medical School, and the Wentworth Institute of Technology, all need more room there—representing opportunities should the public-health school relocate. The University has been working with development firms Leggat McCall, historically on the leasing side of the business, and McCall & Almy, focused on consulting and planning, to aid the work team, whose report on Harvard’s development strategy is due to Faust in mid summer.

You might also like

Two Momentous Faculty Retirements

Arthur Kleinman and Harry Lewis depart the classroom.

Five Questions with Cass R. Sunstein

The Harvard Law professor and constitutional scholar on what Star Wars can tell us about today’s Supreme Court

Harvard Releases Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim Task Force Reports

University publishes findings from thorough examinations of campus conditions.

Most popular

Harvard Renames Diversity Office

The decision follows pressure from the Trump administration to eliminate DEI practices. 

The Downsides of Prozac

Harvard researchers discuss the side effects of Prozac and other SSRIs

Harvard Releases Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim Task Force Reports

University publishes findings from thorough examinations of campus conditions.

Explore More From Current Issue

The Trump Administration's Impact on Higher Education

Unprecedented federal actions against research funding, diversity, speech, and more

89664

Jessica Shand—Math and Music at Harvard

Jessica Shand blends math and music.

89677

Paper Peepshows at Harvard's Baker Library

How “paper peepshows” brought distant realms to life

89684