Resident Protests Stall Daycare Center Move

Three months after University administrators announced plans to relocate a daycare center at an on-campus housing project, the move has been stalled by the protests of some residents who claim they were steamrolled by Harvard officials.

"It was announced like a fait accompli," said Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies Marcus Moseley, who has lived at the University's Botanic Gardens complex for two years. "There were immediate strong protests from the residents."

Under the specifics of the proposal, the Harvard Law School Child Care Center's new building was supposed to replace one-story parking garages at Botanic Gardens, a housing complex near the Quad. The $1.5 million, two-story center would also include parking to replace the lost garages.

However, the fate of the project remains to be seen pending a Dec. 18 meeting of the Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeals, at which residents will express their concerns. A Nov. 20 meeting with the city proved inconclusive after a clash between University sponsors and protesters.

"I thought the hardest thing would have been to convince the University to spend $1.5 million on a daycare center," said Elizabeth A. Gibb, a parent and former president of the board at the center.

"Now, a few junior faculty who are upset have turned out to be a surprise and another big hurdle," she said.

Some Botanic Gardens residents said they are strongly opposed to relocating the center to their compound.

"They tried to sell us this project, and people saw the wool was being pulled over their eyes," Moseley said.

Moseley said opponents fear increased traffic, construction noise and loss of open space for children living at Botanic Gardens, among other concerns. But he said many junior faculty living in the area are reluctant to speak out.

"A lot of people are frightened of recrimination because we're all employed by Harvard," Moseley said.

Several other residents declined to be interviewed because of pressure surrounding the issue.

"It's pitting junior faculty against junior faculty," Gibb said.

Defending the project, Associate Vice President for Human Resources Polly Price said she does not believe such protests reflect most tenants' opinions.

"There's a small but vocal number of residents who don't want this child care center," she said. "It's a classic case of 'not in my backyard.'"

However, Moseley said that "there was a petition that over 100 people signed against [the project]." He said that number represented 95 percent of Botanic Gardens residents who were contacted.

"They said we were going to benefit from this," Moseley said. "In fact, only about four rent-paying residents will send their children to this school."

Price noted that other on-campus housing projects, like Peabody Terrace, contain daycare centers without problems.

Despite the criticism, supporters of the daycare center are pleased at the progress being made.

"There's a lot of enthusiasm about this," Price said. "The child care center is very excited."

"I think it's great," said Associate Professor of Neurobiology Kathleen M. Buckley '74, whose twin, three-year-old sons attend the center.

"It's a really impressive resource for the Harvard community, and it would be devastating for everybody if it were to close," she said.

Buckley said her children love the staff at the facility.

"For them, it's their family," she said. "They're very happy there."

Officials at the child care center, which opened in 1971, were given notice to leave their 23 Everett St. site by the Law School last March. The center's clients are primarily affiliated with the University; 85 percent are faculty, staff and students.

The money for the new building was raised by Law School Administrative Dean Sandra S. Coleman, Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles, and President Neil L. Rudenstine, and will cover the cost of construction as well as maintenance, Price said

"They said we were going to benefit from this," Moseley said. "In fact, only about four rent-paying residents will send their children to this school."

Price noted that other on-campus housing projects, like Peabody Terrace, contain daycare centers without problems.

Despite the criticism, supporters of the daycare center are pleased at the progress being made.

"There's a lot of enthusiasm about this," Price said. "The child care center is very excited."

"I think it's great," said Associate Professor of Neurobiology Kathleen M. Buckley '74, whose twin, three-year-old sons attend the center.

"It's a really impressive resource for the Harvard community, and it would be devastating for everybody if it were to close," she said.

Buckley said her children love the staff at the facility.

"For them, it's their family," she said. "They're very happy there."

Officials at the child care center, which opened in 1971, were given notice to leave their 23 Everett St. site by the Law School last March. The center's clients are primarily affiliated with the University; 85 percent are faculty, staff and students.

The money for the new building was raised by Law School Administrative Dean Sandra S. Coleman, Dean of the Faculty Jeremy R. Knowles, and President Neil L. Rudenstine, and will cover the cost of construction as well as maintenance, Price said