Public Health Site Opposed

A Mission Hill publication raised strong objections last week to a proposed construction site for a new health and human rights center.

Residents of the area said the chosen site for the Harvard School of Public Health building will make the center less accessible for their community.

"Harvard should not build their proposed huge building on a small lot in their fortress complex," wrote Mission Hill resident Kathryn Brookins inthe Mission Hill News.

She and her husband, Oscar T. Brookins, said the School of Public Health does not want to build on the "poorer" side of Huntington Avenue.

But Health School officials said the Mission Hill community will have a say in the proposed building site.

"On our planning of the new building center, both a full account of community interest and an ample opportunity for community input will be provided," said Harvey V. Fineberg '67, dean of the School of Public Health. "In fact, this is required by the law."

Residents said they would like the School of Public Health to build the center on a plot of land not currently used by the University called Ledge Site, whichis situated across the street from the proposedsite.

Ledge Site lies 450 feet nearer to theresidential Mission Hill area than the siteHarvard proposes for the Public Health building.

Mr. Brookins, a writer for the News, said theproposal is another sign of the "bunker problem."

"The medical school area is bringing itself inand doesn't open itself to others," he said.

Extra Space

The building will also provide space for newprograms and offices for the School of PublicHealth.

A $20 million donation from AssociationFrancois-Xavier Bagnoud will fund the project.

The building is expected to be five storiestall and to cover 81,000 square feet of floorspace, according to Fineberg. It is expected toopen by the end of 1995

Ledge Site lies 450 feet nearer to theresidential Mission Hill area than the siteHarvard proposes for the Public Health building.

Mr. Brookins, a writer for the News, said theproposal is another sign of the "bunker problem."

"The medical school area is bringing itself inand doesn't open itself to others," he said.

Extra Space

The building will also provide space for newprograms and offices for the School of PublicHealth.

A $20 million donation from AssociationFrancois-Xavier Bagnoud will fund the project.

The building is expected to be five storiestall and to cover 81,000 square feet of floorspace, according to Fineberg. It is expected toopen by the end of 1995