Harvard planners seek feedback on preliminary refinements to master plan

Harvard University’s planners are seeking comment on preliminary refinements to several master planning concepts well in advance of filing an Institutional Master Plan (IMP) with the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), targeted for 2009.

These refined planning concepts, some of which have evolved as a result of community input, will be on display in the “Harvard in Allston Exhibit Room” (in Holyoke Center’s ground-floor arcade) beginning today (Oct. 23). The concepts, including artists’ renderings of what Barry’s Corner and proposed open spaces could look like, are the planners’ effort to reflect more than a year and a half of discussions with Allston neighbors, the city of Boston, and the Harvard community. Harvard’s master planning team is led by Ayers Saint Gross Architects and includes Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, as well as University planners.

“This is just a snapshot in time of some master planning concepts that have evolved and will continue to evolve further as we gather more input and ideas from Harvard, our Allston neighbors, and the city of Boston in the coming months,” said Kathy Spiegelman, chief planner for the Allston Development Group (ADG). “We have a lot more work to do before we have a final IMP, but we wanted to get some ideas out there and get feedback to further advance ongoing discussions and planning.”

The concepts focus on open space, locations for shared public places, and the connections between the Allston campus, the Charles River, and beyond that form the campus framework plan. This revised framework will serve as a guide for the next steps as Harvard continues its academic planning, which is still under way.

Feedback from this dialogue will help further advance thinking on Harvard’s IMP, which is expected to be submitted to the city of Boston in 2009. The refined concepts, while incomplete, will also help inform the BRA’s community-wide planning process for North Allston and North Brighton, which is identifying development goals for the entire community, including Harvard’s future Allston campus, and is progressing as Harvard refines its IMP.