Bennett St. Yards May Be Renewal Site

Cambridge City officials will meet shortly with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority to make a preliminary study of turning the Bennett St. subway yards into an urban renewal project.

Councillor Daniel J. Hayes Jr., who chaired a special committee which met with the MBTA in December, said the authority was "very interested" in the urban renewal idea.

The Kennedy family has indicated that it is considering the 12-acre site for the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, but Hayes indicated that urban renewal is the "only proper approach" for the area's development even if the Library locates there.

Under Hayes' proposal, the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority would buy the Yards from the MBTA with federal renewal funds. The Authority would then resell the area to the developer who could assure the "highest and best use" of the land.

A development which brings the City a high tax return and blends harmoniously with the present uses of Harvard Square fits the councillor's definition of "highest and best use" he has previously indicated.

Because the Kennedy Library would not pay taxes, Hayes is known to oppose its occupying all of the Yards' 12 acres.

Regardless of the occupant, Hayes said that the renewal approach would give the City necessary controls over the Yards' development. According to this scheme all plans would have to be approved by the Redevelopment Authority.

Hayes told the Council that if the Library decided to locate in the Yards, there would be a "great many problems" and that it would be in Cambridge's interest to have the Redevelopment Authority coordinate the development.

Traffic and parking are generally considered to be two of the largest potential problems. Library officials are known to want considerable parking space nearby. Hayes has also expressed interest in increased parking spaces in the Harvard Square area.

I.M. Pei, architect for the Kennedy Library, has done considerable urban renewal work. He was selected to design the Library, in part, because of his familiarity with city problems. It was felt that he would be able to cope with difficulties created by the Library and the huge number of visitors it is expected to attract.