Harvard University and Development in North Allston & North Brighton
Harvard University owns some 300 acres in North Brighton and North Allston, the area north of the Massachusetts Turnpike. Harvard is now developing its expansion plans. The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is providing oversight of these development plans.
Check the Boston Redevelopment Authority's Allston Brighton webpage, which has links to the Harvard development proposals listed below.
Get information from Harvard University's Allston Initiative website.
Harvard's Institutional Development Documents
Currently, the BRA is overseeing Harvard's Institutional Master Plan for its proposed campus in Allston.
- In April 2006, Harvard released a project notification form for an amendment
to its existing institutional master plan (IMPA PNF) (PDF format).
This document is an overview of Harvard's proposals for three institutional
projects: a 500,000 sq-ft. science center; art museum space; and arts
& cultural facility. The public was given the standard 30 days to
comment on this document.
- In June 2006, the BRA responded with a scoping
determination (PDF format) for Harvard's proposal. This includes comments
submitted by the community.
- In December 2006, Harvard released its Institutional
Master Plan Amendment, which incorporated the comments from the BRA's
scoping determination.
- In October 2006, Harvard released a project notification form (PNF) for
its proposed Science
Complex (PDF format).
- In December 2006, Harvard released a PNF for its proposed Art Complex (PDF format).
- In January 2007, Harvard released a PNF for a NEW
Institutional Master Plan that describes what it would like to build
over the next 50 years.
- In June 2007, Harvard filed its Draft Project Impact Report (DPIR) for its Science Complex with the BRA. The comment period for the DPIR ends Sept. 10, 2007.
- In Summer 2007 ABCPI held mini-workshops on the DPIR with certified planner Larry Koff. We developed a series of fact sheets comparing the DPIR to the North Allston Strategic Planning Framework. We hope they help you sift through the very hefty DPIR document.
Here are CPI comments on the DPIR.
Harvard-Charlesview Proposed Land Swap
Harvard University has been discussing the possibility of a "land swap" with Charlesview Inc., owners of the Charlesview Apartments, a 213-unit subsidized housing development at the intersection of Western Ave. & North Harvard St.
In Nov. 2006, Charlesview, Inc. issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors had voted to pursue a land swap with Harvard. In this agreement, Charlesview Apartments would hand over its current site to Harvard in exchange for 6.5 acre site on Western Ave. that includes part of the Brighton Mills Shopping Center as well as a land parcel fronting Soldiers Field Road.
Read the Harvard Crimson article Residents Protest Allston Plans.
Charlesview, Inc. held informational meetings about the proposed land swap in Dec 2006. Click here for the flier.
Harvard Task Force Meetings
Generally, Harvard Task Force meetings are held 6:30PM -8:30PM at the Honan-Allston Library, 300 N. Harvard St., Allston. All meetings are subject to cancellation or change. In 2007, they are being held the 2nd Monday and 4th Wednesday of the month.
North Allston Strategic Planning Framework
In 2004, the BRA developed the North Allston Strategic Planning Framework, which affects both North Allston and North Brighton.