Allston Task Force Convenes to Discuss University Plans

The Allston-Brighton task force convened for the first time last week at the Honan-Allston Library to set up a schedule of bi-monthly meetings for the rest of the semester.

The mayor announced the formation of the task force in January, charging 17 community members with coordinating neighborhood response to the University’s plans for its land in Allston.

“These dedicated residents and business leaders will serve the city and their community to make sure that this institutional master plan process is done right, with the community’s needs incorporated,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino in a statement.

The task force will meet again next week.

“My biggest concern is that whatever it is that Harvard does improves the existing quality of life in the neighborhood, and to whatever degree it can, enhance it,” said Paul Berkeley, the President of the Allston Civic Association, and a representative on the task force.

He suggested that the University consider improving local transportation and scaling buildings to residential size at the periphery of their property.

Residents of Allston-Brighton have already submitted their own outline of their goals for the area. The University participated in the formation of this community master plan, leading residents to believe that their interests will be reflected in Harvard’s final proposals.

Boston zoning laws require the University to submit an institutional master plan this spring, outlining long-term goals for their holdings.

“[The University’s plans] have to be compatible because that was the reason for Harvard participating in our program in the first place,” said Allston Civic Association Harvard Task Force chairman Ray Mellone.

Berkeley said that Harvard had identified the construction of new science facilities across the river as one of its priorities.

Harvard’s development of its property in Cambridge has typically generated considerable town-gown tension, But the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s project manager Gerald Autler said he did not anticipate a similar phenomenon in Boston.

“The work to date has established a precedent for a high degree of community involvement,” Autler said.

Harvard’s Director of Community Relations for Boston, Kevin McCluskey ’76, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

—Staff writer Natalie I. Sherman can be reached at nsherman@fas.harvard.edu.