New HSA Building Nears Completion

Renovations of the Harvard Student Agencies' (HSA's) new headquarters at 67 Mt. Auburn St. are on schedule and will be completed in late October, according to HSA president Matthew J. Heid '97.

The move is designed to increase available space and visibility for HSA, allowing the organization to expand its services greatly.

"We're really excited to be moving to a place where students will be coming by all the time," said HSA vice president Adam J. Rymer '97. "Our programs were really constrained at the old site."

The Campus Store will particularly benefit from increased space and traffic.

"Although we didn't lose any revenues, the move from Thayer several years ago negatively affected the store," Rymer said. "It'll be great to be in the limelight again."

HSA will be able to offer more jobs and services to students, he said.

The Mt. Auburn Street building has been undergoing extensive structural renovations since this summer.

In addition to restoring the building's historic exterior, HSA is adding an elevator shaft and handicapped acces routes to bring the building in line with codes stipulated by the Americans with Disabilities Act, Rymer said.

But most of the major work is taking place on the second, third and fourth floors, where workers are reconfiguring the rooms to fit HSA programs, Rymer said.

The new building will bring together Let's Go Inc., now on One Story Street, with the rest of HSA.

"It'll be great to have unity between the two businesses," Rymer said.

Because the new building is too large for HSA alone, space on the two street-level storefronts will be leased, Rymer said.

The Tennis and Squash Shop will continue in its current location, and Rymer said he expects at least one more business to lease the space pre- viously occupied by Elsie's Sandwich shop.

Plans to install an Italian restaurant on the corner have fallen through, said Heid, adding that HSA is currently in negotiations with potential tenants.

Robert J. Herr, owner of the Tennis and Squash Shop, said that although he is unhappy with the inconvenience of the renovations, he intends to sign a long-term lease with HSA.

"It's been tough on business," said Herr, gesturing to the scaffolding and plastic sheeting swathing the building. "But I think it's a positive thing. It's a historic building, and the important thing is that they're restoring it to the way it once was."

"The old landlord was a nice man, but he kind of let it go," Herr added. "(The Building) is falling down. It's in need of repair."

According to Rymer, the renovation process is going smoothly, although HSA did have to call in an environmental specialist to check out some chemicals found in the chemistry lab of the building's prior tenant, the Manter Hall School.

HSA plans to move in early November, he said.

"We'll probably spend the first months trying to get used to the new spot, but I'm sure we'll have a lot more to offer from the new location," Rymer said

Plans to install an Italian restaurant on the corner have fallen through, said Heid, adding that HSA is currently in negotiations with potential tenants.

Robert J. Herr, owner of the Tennis and Squash Shop, said that although he is unhappy with the inconvenience of the renovations, he intends to sign a long-term lease with HSA.

"It's been tough on business," said Herr, gesturing to the scaffolding and plastic sheeting swathing the building. "But I think it's a positive thing. It's a historic building, and the important thing is that they're restoring it to the way it once was."

"The old landlord was a nice man, but he kind of let it go," Herr added. "(The Building) is falling down. It's in need of repair."

According to Rymer, the renovation process is going smoothly, although HSA did have to call in an environmental specialist to check out some chemicals found in the chemistry lab of the building's prior tenant, the Manter Hall School.

HSA plans to move in early November, he said.

"We'll probably spend the first months trying to get used to the new spot, but I'm sure we'll have a lot more to offer from the new location," Rymer said