City Council Divides Over Sale of Land

Members of the City Council yesterday divided sharply over the University's expansion plans and possible Council action in relation to them.

The Council voted down an order which would have requested the MTA to notify it of any intention to sell the Cambridge earbarns to Harvard. It also rejected an amendment to the order which would have asked notice of intention to sell the property to any corporation or person.

In discussing the order and amendment, several councilors spoke at length on their views toward Harvard expansion. Supporting the order, Councilor Mrs. Pearl K. Wise proposed a five-point program for bettering the University's relations with the city:

1. Renunciation of its interest in building tax-exempt structures on the MTA property. "It seems to me that Harvard is not entitled to two more Houses facing the river," she stated.

2. Greater use of its "vast land reserves along Soldiers Field Rd.," on the other side of the river. New foot bridges across the Charles would provide accessibility to Houses on the other side

3. Dispersion of facilities, "rather than trying to concentrate in and around Harvard Sq." This would remove "the pressure of Harvard expansion" from the city.

4. Support without reservation of the proposed new zoning ordinance (The University has already expressed its general approval of the ordinance, but says certain aspects of it might unduly hamper its growth.)

5. "Immediate and drastic steps to ban student cars completely from Cambridge."

Crane Attacks Order

Taking issue with supporters of the notification order, Councilor Edward A. Crane '35 said he did not favor a "road block" which would hamper Harvard's legitmate effort to buy the land. He asserted that the University "has started an active real estate market here," al- though it might have attempted to obtain the land through private negotiations.

Crane attacked the view that Harvard and M.I.T, with their large areas of tax-exempt property, are an economic burden to taxpayers. He said that on the contrary the Universities have "a stabilizingeffect" on the city's tax rate, and, comparing Cambridge's taxes to those in neighboring cities, attributed the relatively low rate here to the presence of the institutions.

Reminding the Council that the Program for Harvard College has brought about $60 million of capital funds to Cambridge from all over the country, Crane said that this money, much of it to be spent on construction, would be an important asset to the city.

Councilor Joseph A. DeGuglielmo '29, also stressed the economic importance of the University, especially in the "job opportunities" it provides citizens. He attacked the notification request, which has been proposed last week by Councilor Alfred E. Vellucci, saying that "the only reason for this type of order is to embarrass."

But Councilor Edward J. Sullivan gave his support to Vellucci's order, stating that he felt "a private developer can come up with a much better offer." Charging Harvard with attempting a "land grab," he said, "I know they are fast trying to put me out of business in my district," the area in the neighborhood of Dunster House and the new Leverett towers.

Further action of the defeated order may be forthcoming at the next Council meeting March 2, as Vellucci has notified the City Clerk of his desire to have the matter reconsidered at that time