Keeping a Close Eye On The Harvard Allston Expansion
With the announcement of the construction slowdown of the science complex in Allston, some of us Allston residents realized that there may very well be a large hole in the ground for many more years to come.
Suddenly, we looked around and saw that there were many issues with the Harvard 50 year plan for Allston that the neighborhood needs to keep an eye on. For those that live in Allston / Brighton, or in Cambridge, or in Boston, we need to be more vigilant to prevent our town from becoming nothing more than empty buildings for the next 50 years.
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Western Ave gets more art
Posted on May 10th, 2009 1 comment
I’d like to see a tenant there, but a little art in the windows is a step in the right direction.
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I want my new park and triple deckers…
Posted on April 29th, 2009 2 comments
Walking around last Sunday there were lots of great things to see — utility boxes being painted (1) and new pansies planted everywhere (2). Walking around to the other side of the river I saw a new park near completion at the corner of Western and Memorial where Mahoney’s used to be. The park looked like it was very well designed and had 3 new buildings rising behind it (top of image to the left). The buildings blended in with the neighborhood well — not too tall, not too wide. If it wasn’t for the new paint and my memory of the area I would have said they were there for years. I thought what a great model for Harvard and/or Charlesview to follow. I asked a friend in Cambridgeport and he said it was new MIT housing. Great! I can write a blog lambasting Harvard and holding up MIT as an example of what is pure and good.
Wrong! Upon googling the project it became quickly clear this was a Harvard development (3). Wha-wha-what?!? I’m confused. Shouldn’t there be a large tower blocking the river or perhaps a large hole in the ground (ok, there was a small hole, but I saw the dirt that was going to fill it in piled next to it)?
Ok, I’m bashing Harvard for the new Charlesview design, which they allegedly have no control over, and for a building that they allegedly don’t have the money to complete and they ARE continuing work on the Library Park. All I have to say is they seem to be doing a pretty good job on the other side of the river and spotty job on this side.
And at the risk of sounding like a broken record — the new Charlesview will be their neighbor too. If that comes off poorly Harvard students won’t need http://www.thisisharvard.org to see poorly maintained Harvard-related buildings, they will only need to look out their classroom or apartment windows.
(1) http://allston02134.blogspot.com/2009/04/boston-shines-brings-art-to-western-ave.html; My favorite so far is the one in front of Stadium Autobody.
(2) Can’t get the photos off my camera with BitPim, but walk around they’re really there! Especially in Barry’s Corner.
(3) http://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/cp/parks/riverside/index.html
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Oldies, but goodies - Allston resists Harvard
Posted on April 17th, 2009 No commentsThe below images may be old news to some, but in mid Feburary community members from ABNA (1) put home made banners on some of Harvard’s vacant buildings near Barry’s Corner to highlight the blight that Harvard is giving us. Too bad I had class that night or I would have participated.Remember to support local businesses tomorrow and every day.
Former Charlesbank Cleaners:
Former Citgo
(1) http://groups.google.com/group/ABNNF/browse_thread/thread/38462be4dfe8e7bc
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Support local business next Saturday 4/18
Posted on April 10th, 2009 1 commentThe best way to revitalize our neighborhood is to have both a thriving residential and commercial community. Right now we have a pretty solid residential community, but the business community has suffered under the seemingly arbitrary plans of Harvard. Having said that there are still a number of new and growing business in Allston. Let’s all try to support them next Saturday (see repost below).
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Repost:
North Allston/Brighton Fair:
Support Local Businesses, Celebrate our Community!
Saturday, April 18, 2009Celebrate the beginning of spring, and our wonderful neighborhood, too!
Shop at your local businesses for great deals, samples and entertainment!
Supporting local shops will keep our community healthy and affordable.
Maps of participating businesses will be given out at the neighborhood
parks, starting at 11am.Meet at Portsmouth Park or Smith Playground at 11am-5pm for Maps, Family
Activities, Picnics, Games, Music, and Fun! Bring instruments, food, and
sports equipment to share. This event is about neighborhood participation!Volunteers: We are also looking for neighbors to get involved! We need
musicians to play music (music that doesn’t need amplification or
electricity) in the parks, and volunteers to help run kids games, sports
and other activities, plus anyone who’d like to help out by sharing the
flier with their neighbors.Businesses or neighborhood organizations looking to get involved: please
call us at the number below, we’d love to have your participation.
Brought to you by the Allston/Brighton Neighborhood Assembly. Contact us
for questions, to volunteer and help out, or to get your business or
community group involved with the fair:(617)-800-3176 ABNA@RiseUp.net
myspace.com/DefendAllstonBrighton