Allston
The University has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for real estate partners to plan, build and manage the
residential commons and retail center in Barry's Corner. Read more about the selection criteria here: Barry’s Corner Real Estate Partner Selection Criteria.pdf
September 19, 2011
Dear Neighbors, Colleagues, and Friends,
Earlier this summer, the Harvard Allston Work Team presented the University with a set of five recommendations for proposed next steps in Allston.
Over the past three months, the University has reviewed the Work Team's report, considered each recommendation and solicited feedback from various stakeholders including officials from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the City of Boston, and the Boston Redevelopment Authority, as well as members of the Harvard and Allston communities. Input from our neighbors in Allston, drawn from Task Force meetings, coffee hours, emails and one-on-one discussions, was a critical part of this review process.
Three consistent themes emerged from stakeholder feedback: 1) the desire for a phased approach to development; 2) the importance of ongoing opportunities for community input; 3) the prioritization of development on the Western Avenue foundation as a near-term focus.
I am writing to inform you that the Work Team recommendations have been endorsed by the President and the Harvard Corporation, along with a timeline for development, in two distinct but related phases.
The first phase will have three major components:
- The University will move ahead on a Health and Life Science Center on the Western Avenue foundation, driven by academic planning under the leadership of the Provost. The Provost anticipates an immediate and sustained focus on academic planning for the Health and Life Science Center and will look to conclude that planning by the end of the academic year. As the program of specific health, life and interdisciplinary science research uses is identified, the building plan will be evaluated and re-programmed to ensure the optimization of science and research space. We expect to share the proposed changes with the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the community beginning in June 2012, at the latest. In order to help fund the project, health, life and interdisciplinary sciences will be an important component of the University's upcoming capital campaign.
- Next month, building on the recent investments by Harvard in the Barry's Corner area, the University will launch planning for a new residential commons and retail center in Barry's Corner. Rental housing for Harvard graduate students, visiting scholars, faculty members and others will be combined with retail facilities and amenities for the entire neighborhood. Beginning in October, the University will host a series of public charettes with our neighbors in Allston, facilitated by local architecture firm Elkus/Manfredi, to solicit ideas and feedback to inform planning for Barry's Corner. Following these charettes, the University will issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) by March 2012 for third-party development partners to plan, build and manage the residential commons and retail center. Depending on the pace of the design and permitting processes, construction could begin in 2013.
- Additionally, phase one will include site assessment and academic planning for the current Charlesview Apartments site along Western Avenue and North Harvard Street. Harvard has committed to the community that as soon as the new Charlesview Residences are occupied, and prior to demolition at the existing site, Harvard will provide an update on the site assessment, academic planning and timeline.
The second phase will focus on Allston Landing North and the feasibility of a hotel and conference center. The University will take steps to identify appropriate development partners to assist in planning for and developing the Enterprise Research Campus, along with a hotel and conference center. This activity will be explored in tandem with phase one, but with longer-term objectives and timeframes. The University leadership sees great potential in an Enterprise Research Campus that will serve as a gateway to a collaborative community for business, investment capital, and research and science development.
Harvard anticipates that the planning efforts associated with these two phases will result in a new Institutional Master Plan Notification Form (IMPNF) submission by December 2012, a process which will include a series of conversations with the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the community that will ultimately lead to a new Institutional Master Plan for Harvard in Allston.
I encourage you to visit our website for continued updates on next steps in Allston
We at Harvard hope to see many of you on October 15th at the annual Harvard Community Football game.
Sincerely,
Katherine N. Lapp, Executive Vice President