City to Ask Joint Center For Urban Planning Advice

Cambridge officials hope to commission faculty from the Harvard-MIT Joint Center for Urban Studies and the Kennedy School of Government soon to help the city with planning, the city manager said yesterday.

Although no specific projects have been arranged yet, City Manager Robert W. Healy said Tuesday that he would like the Joint Center faculty to assist the city with housing and tax reform. Healy added that he expected the details of the venture to be completed soon.

The new link is a result of a dinner in June where President Bok and Mayor Alfred E. Vellucci agreed on greater ties between Harvard and the city.

"With Harvard and MIT right here, it is crazy for the city not to use some of the things that universities are doing." Healy said.

Officials at the Joint center said yesterday that they could see the project developing only if the topic was narrowed to feasible limits, but an agreement is in "the offing."

Healy said that he is aware that the assistance will have to be limited because of time constraints and "with all the problems of the city, this is not our most vital concern," but added that some sort of research or policy help could be very valuable to his office.

Cooperation

"Sometimes you can't drain the swamp, because the alligators are always biting you," he said.

"We have to focus on a subject matter that would be beneficial to both sides." Healy said, adding that he would welcome the assistance and cooperation of the University.

Tech and Taxes

For instance. Healy said that Cambridge as it emerged as a center of genetic engineering and other high-technology industries would need advice on how much the city's strained housing market could bear. Another possibility, according to Healy, might be to look into reforming tax codes to take full advantage of the city's growth.

Healy said that with the economic growth that Cambridge is experiencing it will be important to look at the city 10 to 15 years in the future to see whether the city can absorb the expansion.

Match-Up

Healy said he would like K-school faculty to examine making some modifications in the Massachusetts tax code for high growth regions. "We have to address the burdens of growth," he added.

Jacqueline O'Neil, Director of Community Affairs, said that the aim of the plan "is to match what the city needs to the faculty expertise," adding. "The University wants to help."

H. James Brown, director of the joint center, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Healy said that the possibilities would be discussed tonight when the city and university meet at the second Bok-Vellucci dinner.