Harvard Should Not Rush to Construction in Allston

To the editors:



The most outrageous problem with Harvard’s proposal for a building at 224 Western Ave. in Allston is that Harvard planners actually admit they never considered nearby Harvard-owned sites as possible locations for this building (“Officials Face Concerns Over Allston Expansion,” news, Feb. 13). The 224 Western Ave. location has many problems, including a narrow and irregular shape and proximity to several abutting residential properties. But Harvard, in a rush to start construction, wants to build at 224 Western Ave. because to use a different site Harvard would first have to submit a modified Master Plan Amendment to the City of Boston, and this would delay the project by several months.

We know Harvard has lots of money, but before spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a new building doesn’t Harvard review all possible locations and choose the best one?



HARRY MATTISON

Feburary 13, 2007

Allston, Mass.

The writer is a resident of Allston.