University Misled Allston Residents About New Policy

Harvard officials misled Allston residents at a public meeting in June when they told nearly 175 community members that President Neil L. Rudenstine has committed the University to never again purchase land secretly under his watch.

Harvard's pronouncement in early June that from 1988 to 1994 it had secretly acquired 52.6 acres of land in the Allston section of Boston consumed the agenda of the June 25th meeting of the Allston Civic Association.

When State Sen. Warren Tolman asked Harvard officials to promise not to purchase land secretly again, Kevin A. McCluskey '76 director of community relations, said Rudenstine had made this commitment to Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino for the duration of his term as president.

But in his first public remarks to The Crimson since the University revealed the purchases, Rudenstine was not categorical.

"I don't want to make an absolute statement, but I think you can say that this was a thoughtful, long-term set of purchases and that we don't have another such set of purchases in mind at the moment," he said.

Rudenstine made no commitments- or even an explicit statement-when asked repeatedly about the future of the University's policy on third-party purchasing, known as buying through a "straw." For the Allston purchases, Harvard officials hired Beal Cos., a prominent real estate developer in Boston, to purchase the 14 parcels for them during the seven-year period.

Though all sides seemed to clearly understand after the June meeting that the University would not purchase land secretly under Rudenstine, community and Harvard officials-to the highest echelons of the administration-scrambled after this latest statement to determine what Harvard's policy really is.

Those who attended the Allston Civic Association meeting in June said they heard an explicit promise, and Harvard officials present said it was meant to be one.

"I understood [what they said] to mean that Rudenstine wouldn't buy land through a third party again as long as he was president, "said Paul Berkeley, president of the Allston Civic Association.

When read Rudenstine's statement, Berkeley said, "That does surprise me because that's not what I took them to mean. It sounds like he's backed off from what the original commitment was, and it's certainly something I remember. "

Though McCluskey declined to comment on the record last night, administration sources suggested that the misrepresentation was unintentional.

McCluskey's boss, Vice president for Government, Community and Public Affairs James H. Rowe III '73, expressed surprise when read Rudenstine's remarks.

"That's a new development, " Rowe said in an interview Saturday night. Though Rowe did not speak at the Allston Civic Association meeting, he sat three rows from the back of the room and said in the interview that he, too, recalled McCluskey's promise.

Rudenstine did say that the University would not undertake another aggressive search for land-as they had in Allston-during his administration, and he restated that Harvard has no immediate plans to use the parcels.

"I think fundamentally that those properties were bought with something like a 50 to 350-year time horizon in mind, "he said. "We're not going to be planning for the next 1,000 years. "

"These are not the sorts of things universities do-can do or should do-frequently, " the President said. "You shouldn't often be looking out 50 to 350 years. "

But this was not the promise people heard at the Allston Civic Association.

"If you spoke to anybody after the news came out, the feeling was that this would not happen again, and now we're getting second doubts as the dust is beginning to settle, "said State Rep . Steven Tolman. "This causes me great concern as a representative of the people in Allston-Brighton....Clearly, hearing this news I am astonished. "

Rowe added Saturday night that regardless of the President's policies, no straw purchasing is currently taking place in Allston.

"I am not aware of any plans to acquire any other parcels in Allston-Brighton, " he said. "People have approached us with all sorts of offers, but we're now concerned with planning for the long-term use of the land [we have]. "

There is also debate now as to whether Rudenstine ever promised Menino that he would not engage in third-party purchasing again while he was president, as McCluskey had stated.

Rudenstine refused to comment on his conversations with the mayor, but in an interview Friday night Rowe said, "In a meeting we had with the mayor back in the summer, President Rudenstine said he would not do a straw purchase of that nature in Boston. "

The key words may be "of that nature, "because the Mayor's Press Secretary Jacque Goddard, said Menino did not remember Rudenstine's specifically promising not to do third party purchasing.

After hearing Rudenstine's position and his refusal to explicitly rule out future secret purchases, Goddard said the mayor had the same understanding of Rudenstine's position, though the mayor does not condone the practice. "[Rudenstine] is accurate, then, in his position, "she said.

This latest development is the most recent in a string of conflicts caused by the University's announcement.

Menino responded sharply in June to Harvard's announcement of the purchases, writing to Rudenstine to "condemn" Harvard's actions.

"For Harvard University to suddenly reveal itself as the owner of numerous properties in Allston represents the highest level of arrogance seen in our city in many years, "he wrote.

Allston residents were equally outraged at the June 25th Allston Civic Association meeting.

Of the more than 30 speakers heard during the four-hour meeting, almost all criticized-often sharply-the University's secret purchases.

"Did they have a conscience? " Sylvia Crystal asked of the Harvard Corporation, the University's highest governing board. "This was just plain deception. "

Despite residents' surprise, Harvard has a history of buying land through a third party to prevent land owners from inflating their prices, according to Sally H. Zeckhauser, vice president for administration. In particular, the land where the College's river houses now sit was bought this way.

Other Allston residents contacted this weekend-having heard and bemoaned the University's first announcement-did not seem especially shocked about Rudenstine's most recent statement.

"I think so many people were so cynical about the thing that perhaps they didn't take too seriously what [Harvard officials] were saying, " said John T. Trumpbour, an Allston resident who did graduate work at Harvard. "These people were doing public relations, and the real powerful people-like Rudenstine-weren't even there. "CrimsonMatthew. P. MillerUNPOPULAR PURCHASES: Harvard's secret purchase of land in Allsont, including this shopping center, angered many.

Though all sides seemed to clearly understand after the June meeting that the University would not purchase land secretly under Rudenstine, community and Harvard officials-to the highest echelons of the administration-scrambled after this latest statement to determine what Harvard's policy really is.

Those who attended the Allston Civic Association meeting in June said they heard an explicit promise, and Harvard officials present said it was meant to be one.

"I understood [what they said] to mean that Rudenstine wouldn't buy land through a third party again as long as he was president, "said Paul Berkeley, president of the Allston Civic Association.

When read Rudenstine's statement, Berkeley said, "That does surprise me because that's not what I took them to mean. It sounds like he's backed off from what the original commitment was, and it's certainly something I remember. "

Though McCluskey declined to comment on the record last night, administration sources suggested that the misrepresentation was unintentional.

McCluskey's boss, Vice president for Government, Community and Public Affairs James H. Rowe III '73, expressed surprise when read Rudenstine's remarks.

"That's a new development, " Rowe said in an interview Saturday night. Though Rowe did not speak at the Allston Civic Association meeting, he sat three rows from the back of the room and said in the interview that he, too, recalled McCluskey's promise.

Rudenstine did say that the University would not undertake another aggressive search for land-as they had in Allston-during his administration, and he restated that Harvard has no immediate plans to use the parcels.

"I think fundamentally that those properties were bought with something like a 50 to 350-year time horizon in mind, "he said. "We're not going to be planning for the next 1,000 years. "

"These are not the sorts of things universities do-can do or should do-frequently, " the President said. "You shouldn't often be looking out 50 to 350 years. "

But this was not the promise people heard at the Allston Civic Association.

"If you spoke to anybody after the news came out, the feeling was that this would not happen again, and now we're getting second doubts as the dust is beginning to settle, "said State Rep . Steven Tolman. "This causes me great concern as a representative of the people in Allston-Brighton....Clearly, hearing this news I am astonished. "

Rowe added Saturday night that regardless of the President's policies, no straw purchasing is currently taking place in Allston.

"I am not aware of any plans to acquire any other parcels in Allston-Brighton, " he said. "People have approached us with all sorts of offers, but we're now concerned with planning for the long-term use of the land [we have]. "

There is also debate now as to whether Rudenstine ever promised Menino that he would not engage in third-party purchasing again while he was president, as McCluskey had stated.

Rudenstine refused to comment on his conversations with the mayor, but in an interview Friday night Rowe said, "In a meeting we had with the mayor back in the summer, President Rudenstine said he would not do a straw purchase of that nature in Boston. "

The key words may be "of that nature, "because the Mayor's Press Secretary Jacque Goddard, said Menino did not remember Rudenstine's specifically promising not to do third party purchasing.

After hearing Rudenstine's position and his refusal to explicitly rule out future secret purchases, Goddard said the mayor had the same understanding of Rudenstine's position, though the mayor does not condone the practice. "[Rudenstine] is accurate, then, in his position, "she said.

This latest development is the most recent in a string of conflicts caused by the University's announcement.

Menino responded sharply in June to Harvard's announcement of the purchases, writing to Rudenstine to "condemn" Harvard's actions.

"For Harvard University to suddenly reveal itself as the owner of numerous properties in Allston represents the highest level of arrogance seen in our city in many years, "he wrote.

Allston residents were equally outraged at the June 25th Allston Civic Association meeting.

Of the more than 30 speakers heard during the four-hour meeting, almost all criticized-often sharply-the University's secret purchases.

"Did they have a conscience? " Sylvia Crystal asked of the Harvard Corporation, the University's highest governing board. "This was just plain deception. "

Despite residents' surprise, Harvard has a history of buying land through a third party to prevent land owners from inflating their prices, according to Sally H. Zeckhauser, vice president for administration. In particular, the land where the College's river houses now sit was bought this way.

Other Allston residents contacted this weekend-having heard and bemoaned the University's first announcement-did not seem especially shocked about Rudenstine's most recent statement.

"I think so many people were so cynical about the thing that perhaps they didn't take too seriously what [Harvard officials] were saying, " said John T. Trumpbour, an Allston resident who did graduate work at Harvard. "These people were doing public relations, and the real powerful people-like Rudenstine-weren't even there. "CrimsonMatthew. P. MillerUNPOPULAR PURCHASES: Harvard's secret purchase of land in Allsont, including this shopping center, angered many.