Allston Agenda

The Corporation has approved the recommendations of the Allston Work Team (released last June) for various Harvard development projects, and a schedule for pursuing near-term actions. The decisions were outlined in a September 19 letter to the community from executive vice president Katie Lapp:

  • Academic planning for a life-and health-sciences center—what Harvard units would use it, and how—to be built on the foundation for the initial Allston science complex (where work was halted in late 2009), is to be completed by next June. Presumably, new architectural and engineering plans for the re-envisioned complex would follow. But the University indicated that construction will rely on funds raised in the forthcoming capital campaign.
  • By next March, the University intends to issue requests for proposals to third-party developers who would create Harvard-affiliated rental housing and retail facilities at the intersection of Western Avenue and North Harvard Street, beyond Harvard Business School and the Stadium.
  • Following the science and residential initiatives, Harvard will identify partners for the “enterprise business campus” and hotel-conference center envisioned for the 36-acre Allston Landing North site, near the Charles River. Successful planning for these two phases of work should enable Harvard to engage the Boston Redevelopment Authority by late 2012—the first step in creating an institutional master plan that will guide work in the area in coming years.

This roadmap—in scale with the complexity of the development envisioned, and the necessary financing and partnerships involved—probably gives the Allston community a more realistic vision for what might unfold, even if the schedule is slower than neighbors might hope.

Click here for the November-December 2011 issue table of contents

Related Topics

You might also like

Harvard Kennedy School Unveils American Service Fellowship

Will fund degrees for 50 public servants and military veterans

Harvard Layoffs Continue, with More to Come

In the wake of federal government actions, several Harvard schools and institutes are cutting costs.

Trump Administration Threatens Harvard’s Accreditation, Subpoenas Student Records

The federal government mounts pressure amid negotiations with Harvard.

Most popular

Harvard’s Hiring Freeze Continues

University leaders say $1 billion per year is at risk due to federal actions

Harvard Retains Winthrop Name

Committee undecided on whether owning slaves merits denaming

The Professor Who Quantified Democracy

Erica Chenoweth’s data shows how—and when—authoritarians fall.

Explore More From Current Issue

Salsa Squared

Latin dancing fills the streets in Harvard Square   

New Harvard Overseers and HAA Directors

Alumni showed increased interest in this year’s elections.