The university wants to build a tunnel under Cambridge Street to connect two buildings it is developing on either side of the road. Both buildings will house the Center for Government and International Studies. According to Liza Paden, associate land planner for Cambridge, the city's planning board has approved a special permit for one of the buildings. The other building does not require city approval.
The tunnel will require an approval by the city council as it involves the sale of public land. Mary Power, senior director of community relations at Harvard, tells GlobeSt.com that the land under the street was appraised at $280,000.
Pazen points out that there is a great deal of local opposition to the plan. In addition to the concern over the potential disruption this kind of project will cause, Pazen notes that in general residents are concerned that Harvard doesn't address transitional issues between the university and residential areas. "They think that Harvard is taking over too much of Cambridge," she says. "And then some people," she adds, "just don't like Harvard."
Power is quick to emphasize that this two-building project was undertaken because the initial project for one building near Coolidge Hall met with fierce local opposition at the loss of green space and the forced relocation of a number of historic wood frame buildings. She says that the two buildings--which total approximately 160,000-sf together--will end up adding about 4,000-sf above ground as 43% of the buildings will be located underground. The development of both buildings involves replacing existing buildings.
She adds that the university is working with its neighbors on a construction mitigation plan. This will address construction timing, provide storm windows to area residents to minimize noise and provide study places on campuses. The plan will also ensure that Cambridge Street will remain open during construction either by building a bridge or phasing the development in such a way that both lanes remain open.
The city council has recently asked the city manager to consult with the university on its ability to contribute funds to hire consultants to study the project's impact on the city. Power says that that contribution, which has not yet been determined, will be forthcoming. The city manager has also asked the university to mediate negotiations with the university's neighbors. Power says that the university is "looking for ways to arrive at an acceptable process."
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