Cantabrigians Support New Knafel Proposal

Cambridge residents were subdued last night in their reaction to revised plans for the Knafel Center for Government and International Studies.

In a meeting held at Piper Auditorium in Gund Hall at the Graduate School of Design, Cantabrigians largely voiced approval for Harvard's revised plan to unify the Government and Economics departments in a new complex on both sides of Cambridge Street.

The new plan, which would erect new buildings on the current site of the University Information Services (UIS) building and Coolidge Hall and connect them with tunnels underneath Cambridge Street, was presented by Henry N. Cobb '47. Cobb's firm, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, is handling the design of the project.

"This is a very attractive plan in a number of ways. We'd all prefer a tunnel we can't see to loading docks we can," said one resident.

Though Cobb offered few specific design details he addressed a number of the concerns raised by Cambridge residents, most notably about preserving the garden behind Gund and keeping the size and appearance of the buildings complementary to those already in the area.

Cobb said neither building would be greater than five stories and the basement would be the largest floor in each building. The buildings would also be "stepped" to be less visually imposing.

Harvard officials called the community meeting in the hopes of getting "positive signals from neighbors that this is a direction they want us to pursue," said Mary H. Power, Harvard's director of community relations.

Those signals were in abundant supply last night as residents lauded Harvard for increasing community inclusiveness in the process and praised Cobb for his diligence in attempting to address residents concerns.

"[The Knafel Project] is the first time that Harvard has cooperated with the community," said Cambridge resident Crosby Forbes, to the loudest applause of the night. "This is the first time they told us what they were doing from the beginning."

"I am very happy and relieved to hear the garden will be preserved," said another Cantabrigian, Iten Fales. "I'm overjoyed. I'm absolutely dancing in the street."

John Pitkin, co-chair of the Joint Committee for Neighborhood and Harvard Consultation said, "Mr. Cobb did Harvard's homework, a sign that Harvard has paid attention to the issues."

But Pitkin cautioned, "We have to recognizethat tremendous problems still have to be solvedhere."

He asked for a "longer hiatus" to allowresidents to regroup after the extensiveconstruction that has already taken place onCambridge Street in the last few years.

The timetable for the Knafel complex isunclear. When pushed, Harvard administratorscalled it "very unlikely" that construction wouldbegin in the next two or three years. Constructionof each building would take between 12 to 18months.

Even typically vocal opponents to the Knafelcomplex were subdued by Cobb's soft-spoken40-minute address.

Acting chair of the Campaign to Stop Knafel,resident Michael Charney, while probing Cobb fordetails on the complex's environmental impact,said he was "grateful for Harvard openness in thisprocess."

The most frequent concern of residents lastnight related to the size of the new buildings.

"I'm no fan of the computer building, but thenew building is much, much bigger. If the needs ofthe neighborhood were really being thought aboutperhaps [there would be] a lot less massivebuildings," said one resident.

Plans for the Knafel Center, which wereannounced last year following a $15 million dollargift to the University by Sidney R. Knafel '52were slowed in April, when Cantabrigiansvehemently opposed the first publicly floatedplan. That plan would have placed a several-storybuilding in the open space behind story buildingin the open space behind Gund Hall and would havenecessitated the removal or demolition of someresidential houses.

According to Cobb the new plan would requiremoving at least one house, but he says has lessimpact on the historic residences in the area.

"We are not out of the woods, we have in acertain sense, moved the problem," Cobb said.

One problem that went largely unmentioned atlast night's meeting was that of cost.

According to Nancy L. Maull, administrativedean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the newproject with its substantial use of tunnels andunderground construction could "possibly double"the approximately $30 million cost that hadoriginally been contemplated.

Nevertheless, the positive response from thecommunity caught Harvard officials somewhat bysurprise.

"I'm pleased," said Power as Cambridgeresidents offered congratulations. "There weremore statements supporting our general directionthan I'd expected and we're delighted.

But Pitkin cautioned, "We have to recognizethat tremendous problems still have to be solvedhere."

He asked for a "longer hiatus" to allowresidents to regroup after the extensiveconstruction that has already taken place onCambridge Street in the last few years.

The timetable for the Knafel complex isunclear. When pushed, Harvard administratorscalled it "very unlikely" that construction wouldbegin in the next two or three years. Constructionof each building would take between 12 to 18months.

Even typically vocal opponents to the Knafelcomplex were subdued by Cobb's soft-spoken40-minute address.

Acting chair of the Campaign to Stop Knafel,resident Michael Charney, while probing Cobb fordetails on the complex's environmental impact,said he was "grateful for Harvard openness in thisprocess."

The most frequent concern of residents lastnight related to the size of the new buildings.

"I'm no fan of the computer building, but thenew building is much, much bigger. If the needs ofthe neighborhood were really being thought aboutperhaps [there would be] a lot less massivebuildings," said one resident.

Plans for the Knafel Center, which wereannounced last year following a $15 million dollargift to the University by Sidney R. Knafel '52were slowed in April, when Cantabrigiansvehemently opposed the first publicly floatedplan. That plan would have placed a several-storybuilding in the open space behind story buildingin the open space behind Gund Hall and would havenecessitated the removal or demolition of someresidential houses.

According to Cobb the new plan would requiremoving at least one house, but he says has lessimpact on the historic residences in the area.

"We are not out of the woods, we have in acertain sense, moved the problem," Cobb said.

One problem that went largely unmentioned atlast night's meeting was that of cost.

According to Nancy L. Maull, administrativedean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the newproject with its substantial use of tunnels andunderground construction could "possibly double"the approximately $30 million cost that hadoriginally been contemplated.

Nevertheless, the positive response from thecommunity caught Harvard officials somewhat bysurprise.

"I'm pleased," said Power as Cambridgeresidents offered congratulations. "There weremore statements supporting our general directionthan I'd expected and we're delighted.