Harvard Allston Master Plan Meeting Public Comments January 20, 2005

At the January 20 th meeting, Harvard introduced their Master Planning consultant to the neighborhood. Kathy Spiegelman, Director of Harvard Planning + Allston Initiative discussed Harvard’s process and introduced the Master Planning consultants, David McGregor of Cooper Robertson and Partners from New York City. David shared his initial observations about Allston and what his work would focus on for the Master Plan. The discussion was then opened to give the community an opportunity to discuss what they felt the issues were for Allston in relation to Harvard’s planning effort. The list below is the issues that were raised by the neighborhood during this meeting.

• Concern for unique character of Allston (do not like “mall” character of Harvard Square
• The western end of Western Avenue has traffic issues and the Cambridge side of Western Avenue on weekends
• Open space: Everett St. important for river access (not through Harvard property)
• Don’t like foot bridges across SFR
• Take care of standing water on Smith Field
• Keep Smith Field separate from Harvard fields
• Crossing SFR at Smith Field a possibility; install a light
• Bury SFR (bring river to community)
• Harvard high school
• Access to Harvard facilities (athletics, schools)
• Worried about non-traditional architecture (don’t like One Western Ave.)
• Power and telecommunication lines: too many already
• Filled land: issues with flooding and utilities
• Tunnels for cars
• Underpasses on Cambridge side: Memorial, Western, Cambridge
• Watertown: truck traffic
• Undergraduates on this side of river is a change of what was previously said.
• People park in neighborhood from outside of Allston to work in Harvard Square and to get to the Red Line
• Allow residents to use Harvard Shuttle service (possible resident passes)
• What is the Holton St. area timing?
• Power and utility: who is providing power? Harvard building? Other?
• Police/fire station?
• Electrical power?
• Restricted parking to protect parking for residents
• Traffic issues at Dunkin Donuts: because of the left turn
• Like the look of Harvard: brick/wrought iron