Charlesview Amends Plans

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATION APPENDED

Just six hours after the University’s announcement that it will halt construction on the Allston Science Complex, tensions ran high last night at a community input meeting regarding the relocation of the Charlesview Appartments, a concrete cluster of 213 low-income housing units located near the Business School.

As part of a land swap deal with Harvard, the Charlesview Board of Directors plans to move residents out of the current structure—which is near Harvard’s long-awaited, and now further postponed, Allston Science Complex—in an effort to further development in the neighborhood. Relocated Charlesview residents are expected to be given space in other yet-to-be constructed, housing units on land in the neighborhood currently owned by the University.

The 2007 land swap agreement was intended to allow the University to consolidate its Allston land holdings while giving residents new housing and amenities.

But the redevelopment plan has caused tensions in the neighborhood, with residents concerned that the blueprint did not fall in line with the neighborhood’s overall aesthetic.

In response to these concerns, David Hancock, the project manager for redevelopment, proposed a new architectural plan for the complex. The redesign included a reduction in building heights throughout the sites, but it increased the number of plots that will ultimately serve as sites for the apartment units. The new plan also included more retail space along Western Ave., and it decreases the amount of parking available near housing units.

Additionally, Harvard’s Director of Community Relations for Boston Kevin A. McCluskey ’76 announced at the beginning of the meeting that Harvard will ensure that at least 10 units of market-priced housing will be built on the Brookline Machine site, which was a major point of contention at the previous community meeting. According to a statement released by Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications Christine M. Heenan, the plans for the Brookline site were finalized on Wednesday night at a meeting between President Drew G. Faust and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

Regarding the redesign, McCluskey said that Harvard was “very proud” of the progress that has been made with the Charlesview project.

“This has been a very constructive conversation and now has led to a good proposal and one that all of you have had a lot of input in shaping and improving,” he said.

But many of the residents present at the meeting did not think that the redesign adequately addressed their concerns.

Allston resident Tim McHale proposed a ten-point plan to improve the current design. The proposal included allowing space for backyards in the housing units and moving a McDonald’s to make room for a more attractive plaza on Western Avenue.

“We want more of a neighborhood feel,” McHale said.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority will hold an open meeting next Thursday, during which they will review any revisions to the Charlesview design and vote on whether or not to give the Charlesview Board a permit to begin construction.

—Staff writer Sofia E. Groopman can be reached at segroopm@fas.harvard.edu.

CORRECTIONS

An earlier version of the Dec. 11 news article "Harvard Amends Charlesview Plans" incorrectly stated in the headline and elsewhere in the piece that the University was changing its plans with regards to the Charlesview Apartments. In fact, the plans in question were those of the Charlesview Board of Directors.

The article also incorrectly stated that Harvard had plans to destroy the Charlesview complex. In fact, though residents expressed concern about the possibility of such a move at last nights meeting, the University has not finalized any plans to do so.

CLARIFICATION

The article also may have incorrectly implied that Charlesview residents would be relocated into Harvard-owned buildings in Allston. In fact, though the land where the residents will be relocated is currently owned by the University, it will be exchanged with the Charlesview Board as part of a land swap agreement.