Harvard Repairs Apartment Building Damaged in Fire Fighters' Practice

Harvard made repairs on its Howard St. apartment building Tuesday morning, one day after the University accidentally permitted Cambridge firemen to tear apart the second and third floors while tenants were still living in the basement.

Donald C. Moulton, coordinator of Community Affairs, said Tuesday that the repairs had been minimal and had been made only so that the remaining tenants would not be forced to leave.

He would not comment on the administrative mix-up which caused a Harvard official Monday to give permission for the firemen to tear holes in the roof and floors of the building as part of a practice drill.

Moulton said the building, located at 3 Howard St., will be razed as soon as the basement tenants leave.

The tenants, William H. and Mimi Nixon and their one-year-old daughter, said Monday that Harvard has refused to help them relocate.

Moulton said that it is unclear whether Harvard has a legal responsibility to relocate the Nixons because of special circumstances in their case. He did say, however, that Harvard is morally obliged not to have the building razed until the Nixons have another place to live.