Controversy Continues Over MTA Yards Sale

Controversy over the sale of the Bennet Street MTA Yards continued yesterday in the halls of the Cambridge City Council chamber. Councillor Daniel J. Hayes re-iterated his proposal that the city give the Sullivan-Chase Construction Co. $1 million, but Councillor Alfred E. Vellucci concluded that the Yards would eventually be sold to the University.

Hayes based his request on the plans submitted by the Sullivan-Chase Co., stating that the plans submitted by the Cambridge contruction firm would give the City far more tax revenue than would the Harvard plan. The local firm, with a $4 million bid, was third bidder in a field of four and needs at least another million to compete with Harvard.

He also asked that the bids of high-bidder Francis J. Roche and of a syndicate represted by attorney Samuel P. Coffman be thoroughly investigated, and that their intentions be clarified.

Hayes submitted an order to the Council requesting the Board of Assessors to "evaluate all of the bids submitted to the MTA..... having in mind the stated pledge of the Trustees of the MTA that final acceptance of any offer made for the purchase of said land would be in the 'best interests of the City of Cambridge and its future development.'" The order was passed with little discussion.

Vellicci, however, saw little chance for the Sullivan-Chase Co. to secure the property. "Sure, Harvard will get the property," he said. "Who else?"

Roche Must Appear Today

But speculation over the Roche bid continues. Roche has been requested to appear before the trustees of the MTA today with a complete set of proposals showing his client's intended use of the land. Further speculation has ensued over the identity of Roche's client.

Hayes denied reports that Roche had submitted a second bid on behalf of the Sullivan-Chase Co. He also said that rumors concerning the employment of Roche by a French syndicate were entirely without foundation.

The MTA has reserved the right to accept or reject any of the bids for the now tax-exempt land, and it seems very unlikely that Roche's client will be awarded the sale. The City Council will support whichever will bring the greatest amount of revenue to Cambridge, but MTA officials apear more interested in the feasability of the various proposals and the immediacy of payment.

Hayes Sunday lauded the "imagination" of the Sullivan-Chase Co. plan, pointing out the plans for a 50 story star-shaped building; a 15 story apartment building; a six-story art building; and a ten story department store.

The University plans include two undergraduate houses to occupy 495,000 square feet in low three-to-seven story buildings and highrise towers to contain one thousand apartments.