Botanic Gardens Child Care Center Will Benefit Community

I would like to respond to the Nov. 13 article regarding the relocation of the Harvard Law School Child Care Center (HLSCCC) to Botanic Gardens (BG).

The reason the center was so successful last April in convincing the University to save the center is because these centers are so important to junior Faculty members. Most academic careers as members of a junior faculty begin at the same time as one decides to start a family. This center was critical for the professional careers of my own family as my husband is a junior Faculty member in the cell and developmental biology department, and I am an architect. Also, last March the FAS Committee on the Status of Women, chaired by Professor of History Susan G. Pedersen, stated that child care was critical for all junior Faculty families but especially so for women junior Faculty. These centers are used for recruiting junior Faculty to the University.

I personally have spoken with one of the more vocal BG opponents trying to change opinions regarding the relocation of the center. I listened to the concerns, but believe that many can be dealt with to everyone's satisfaction. I understand the residents' concern regarding the niose generated from construction. This is a relatively small project (6,000 square feet) and estimated time of construction is approximately five to six months. Harvard Planning and Real Estate should be able to work out a schedule that will allow construction to continue without infringing on the current residents, especially because this is such a short construction schedule.

As I read the BG Petition and letter stating reasons why this is not an appropriate site, I guess I feel saddened by the reluctance to wanting to share this space with the entire University community's children. I can see their point of view, and I understand the reluctance to change an existing condition, but I personally believe that the University has chosen an appropriate site. If the Botanic Garden residents are successful in stopping the approval of the zoning appeal, I believe we once again are in danger of losing this high-quality center. I would like to state again that the HLSCCC wants to do what ever it can to accommodate the BG residents concerns. I believe if this site is approved the new center will become a positive point in the future at BG. Part of the reason one lives in the city is to have these shared meetings (such as at the city's playgrounds, etc.). --Elizabeth Gibb, HLSCCC Board President, 1996-97