Harvard’s Opportunity in Allston

In mid-October, the City of Boston approved Harvard University’s multi-million dollar expansion into Allston. The nine-building, 1.4 million square foot set of projects will be the university’s largest development in decades. These projects have the potential to bring about a transformation of an underdeveloped section of the city, creating a “new Allston” similar to the Kendall Square rise in the ’80s and’90s and the more recent dramatic growth of the South Boston “Innovation District.”

For many residents of this working-class Boston neighborhood, Harvard’s expansion represents an opportunity to be something more than a forgotten annex or a cut-through for surburbanites.A new science center, modern apartment buildings and upscale restaurants promise to make the community a destination—not just a parking lot or commuting thoroughfare.

For longtime residents, who grew up in the shadow of one of the greatest academic institutions in the world, the development means that the goodwill and successes that Harvard brought to Cambridge may finally flow across the Charles River to benefit the Allston community.

The project promised to be a transformation—or so neighbors thought.

During years of planning and hundreds of community meetings, Harvard and the Boston Redevelopment Authority encouraged local residents to think outside the box in new ideas for their community. Mayor Thomas Menino, in his introductory comments for the North Allston Strategic Framework planning process, noted the “the wide range of issues and concerns—ranging from housing and transportation to open space and cultural activities—shared by members of this diverse community.”

He described the result of this planning as “a set of ideas and goals that will shape North Allston’s future as a strong residential neighborhood, a vibrant area of economic activity, and an exciting hub of intellectual teaching and research.”

According to regulation, accompanying any large-scale development project is a set of community benefits meant to alleviate the impacts of years of construction and traffic, changes in character to the neighborhood and added housing and commercial space that may stress existing resources. In deciding on a community benefits package for Allston, Harvard committed not only to fund ideas related to housing, education and public realm but also toestablish a “transformative project.”

Sadly, the package of “benefits” presented at a community meeting November 4barely scratches the surface at transforming anything. Harvard may benefit greatly from new Executive Education facilities, renovated dormitories, and more, but life for the residents of Allston will for the most part go on as it has, with years of disruption from Harvard’s construction.

Instead of matching or exceeding the precedents set by colleges and universities across the country, of how privileged, wealthy,and forward-thinking institutions can make a difference in community development, Harvard’s offer is miserly in comparison. For instance, while Yale University hascommitted a total investment of $25 million in incentives for employees to become homeowners in New Haven over the last two decades, Harvard’s “generous” offer of $3 million over the next 10 years doesn’t come close. Similarly, Harvard’s proposal to support $500,000 of capital improvements at the K-8 Gardner Pilot Academy over the next 10 years ismuch appreciated, but Harvard doesn’t hold a candle to the University of Pennsylvania, which is providinga contribution of $1,330 per student to a public school in Philadelphia and will invest $7 million in the same timeframe.

Many of the projects proposed as part of Harvard’s package—pedestrian crossings at Soldiers Field Road and improvements to streetscapes—are as much of a benefit to Harvard athletes and Harvard’s tenantsas they are to residents here. The University’s failure to include dedicated funds for the upgrade of the abutting public park, Smith Field, or new security equipment for the Boston police will not mitigate the impact of new housing units coming online due to Harvard’s construction projects.

The $8.25 million “transformative project,” which is included in part of Harvard’s community benefits package, is nothing more than extension of its current Ed Portal. To truly make a transformation, the University should commit to outcome measures such as helping Allston/Brighton students move into the top tier of MCAS scores, fostering economic development to reduce the unemployment rate to point that it matchesthat of Cambridge,and increasing homeownership to a healthy 30 percent.

If Harvard wants to be a paragon for universities worldwide, there’s much more it can do.

Christina Marin and Harry E. Mattison are residents of North Allston and members of the Harvard Allston Task Force.