harvard science complex dpir comments

8/14/2019 Harvard Science Complex DPIR Comments

1/108

----- Original Message -----From: Joyce RadnorTo: Autler, GeraldSent: Monday, September 10, 2007 5:05 PMSubject: input on Harvard's DPIR

Hi Gerald,

I have been feeding my neighbors' cats this week while they travel overseas. That may not seem imBoston, but it is to them (the cats particularly!) and it is to me. We're neighbors and I take that cove

With that as backdrop, I will thank you for an opportunity to offer my thoughts one last time as we neArticle 80 process reviewing Harvard's Science Complex here in Allston. I have provided my input tTask Force and to Harvard over the past 18 months. You've already heard most everything I have h

nauseam, I'm sure. (For that, I apologize, and thank you for your indulgence.)

In any event, here's one more stab at it....just for old time's sake. Harvard's DPIR seems like a nonme. Perhaps I misunderstood, but I was under the impression the DPIR would address all the issueComplex will lay at our community's feet. In addition, I was under the impression that the DPIR wouissues you raised in your Scoping Determination on the PNF and the IMPA. This DPIR, no matter hweight and word count, does not adequately address either of those requirements. Therefore, I wothe BRA Board to send this back to Harvard for a "do-over" -- no fouls, no penalties. I think the Citythis neighborhood and getting this first phase of a 20+-year plan right, should follow its own rules ansubmission. Further, I would encourage you and the Mayor to take a much closer look at how this pand how future projects can be dealt with in a more friendly and efficient way.

As you know, my concerns run very deeply and broadly -- from green space to traffic; from parking construction hazards to security. I've made all these concerns clear in the past -- always respectfulspare us both the repetition. I will leave community benefits' discussions to people more qualified tand parents have thoughts on educational benefits. The health care specialists have thoughts on cThe environmentalists have thoughts on green space and river access. I defer to their combined kon these issues. I will say, however, that the neighborhood should be better after this project is combefore. (When I say "before," I don't mean "now." I mean before Harvard purchased the land, shuttand allowed weeds to grow, fences to rust, windows to break. That's the "before" I'm referring to.) fund should be established by Harvard to allow this neighborhood to seek its own destiny, but since suggested the Mayor will not allow that, I think simple quality-of-life improvements should be requireUnderground utilities throughout the neighborhood. Attractive gas-lamp-ish light fixtures. Improvedtrees. In addition, I think Harvard should establish and fund a community center(s) to be used for aneighborhood needs.

With all that said, I'd like to share some quick thoughts on this journey, now that we have reached thfor this first Harvard project. I do so with a big, giant sigh that we're moving on. And a big, giant pi

the community -- and most notably the neighborhood most directly affected -- has not achieved the City, the Commonwealth or the developer that we had hoped.

Make no mistake. As I've said many, many times before, I want this Science Complex built. I feel sthat will be done by the Harvard scientists, and I'll be proud to have been in the sphere of that workenthusiasm and optimism left me somewhere in early summer....when you were still a bachelor andconvinced that together this community could be a change-agent for institutional expansion in Bosto


2/108

It has become abundantly clear over the past several Task Force meetings that this project will be athe BRA Board and, ultimately, by the Mayor...who has yet to address/engage the community on thwith not-so-benign resignation, I will say "Uncle."

It is clear to me now that to make a difference does not include attending Task Force meetings, or aseemingly have no answers, or writing letters that just become "public record." It's the sad, but hardantidote, I will continue to feed my neighbors' cats, watch out for their children, water their lawns whin on them when they're sick. The difference I can make is to simply be a good neighbor.

With best regards,Joyce

Joyce RadnorSpice Communications

617-787-5192


3/108

September 10, 2007

Mr. Gerald Autler, Senior Project Manager/Planner

Boston Redevelopment Authority

One City Hall Square

Boston, MA 02201

Re: Community benefits proposal related to Harvard Universitys Allston science co

North Allston Brighton development plans

Dear Mr. Autler:

The Allston Brighton Partnership for Community Health (ABPCH) was formed in early 20

Allston Brighton agencies, schools, hospitals and residents concerned to maintain the s

partnerships and collaborations that existed in the now-defunct Allston Brighton Health

Coalition. The Allston Brighton Partnership for Community Health fosters community h

communication and collaboration, outreach and education. Its mission is to empower

community in Allston Brighton by providing networking for information and referral, op

services, access to services, and resource sharing.

Our members represent the breadth and depth of resources, residents, and issues in A

from education, to healthcare, to housing, to libraries, to seniors, families and youth

broad rubric of community health. Together, we share a great deal of knowledge and e

community needs. As such, we feel strongly positioned to comment on the impact of i

development on the Allston Brighton community and today we offer our comments on

benefits associated with Harvard Universitys proposed science center.

1. Community-Wide, Independent Neighborhood Needs AssessmentAs ABPCH defined itself and contemplated its first steps, we recognized that an essenti

assess community needs so that we can seek to meet them. We have thus concluded b

our first priority as a group is to implement a neighborhood-wide community needs ass

Allston Brighton community has not had a comprehensive assessment since one was co

Allston Brighton Healthy Boston Coalition in 2002. Allston Brighton has continued to ev

since that time. Moreover, in order for anyentity residential or institutional -- to knowbefit us, it must first fully understand what benefits are needed. For this reason, we ho

immediate implementation of a comprehensive needs assessment is an astute first step

community benefits process. We thus recommend that Harvard University make the fu

independent neighborhood needs assessment a priority community benefit in associat

proposed science center


4/108

In addition, we strongly believe that the assessment process should be community-con

an independent consultant who is not accountable to any institution that is likely to be

community benefits in the future. We propose the formation of a collaborative neighbo

assessment task force or sub-committee whose members include several ABPCH memb

representative each from Harvard University, the City of Boston, and the Harvard Task

committee would delineate the scope of the assessment, define the request for qualific

select and oversee the consultant through the delivery of the final product.

In our discussions, the Partnership has begun to develop a strategy for funding the nee

independently. Members have offered their own resources to begin the process: Carita

Medical Center has committed $5,000; The Allston Brighton Substance Abuse Task Forc

$1,000; the Joseph M. Smith Community Health Center has proposed to supervise and consultant; and other members have agreed that they will contribute what funds and r

can. We invite Harvard University to be the lead funder in this collaborative process of

Our group has proposed the following framework for a needs assessment:

A. Who Are We? Neighborhood demographics: Who is in Allston Brighton, what sresidents use, and what are their connections?

This section of the assessment would include, but not be limited to, the following d

Ethnicity, age, economic standing the census categories

Where residents access healthcare

How they live: homeowners or renters; costs of housing; levels of homeless

Where their children go: use of childcare resources (0-18)

Where their elders go: use of eldercare resources (0-18)

Residents connections to services, groups, religious congregations and placLevels of education

Access to computers

B. Whats Out There? Existing Services and benefits: A comprehensive list of existtheir capacity, and how many people they serve from Allston Brighton.

C. What Are Our Needs? Assessing the needs of residents, including families speci. Education

0-4: daycare and preschool

Elementary, middle and high schools

After-school and enrichment programs

Assistance with and access to post-secondary education (includin


5/108

* Health

* Recreation

* Jobs

* Education

* Housing

D. Bridging the Gaps. Next Steps and recommendationsWe have also generated a list of open ended questions that we feel are essential to ask

assessment to assure that specific issues are explored. These include, but are not limite

Are there isolated populations? Look at the elderly, linguistically isolated, home

living in poverty.

What are the big public health issues? Look at substance abuse and risky behav

culturally competent affordable primary healthcare.

What are parents greatest needs?

What is in the community that you use? What is lacking? How do you find out a

things?

Impact of college/university students.

Impact of high school students passing through.How to access groups of students - at both high school and university levels, to

the community.

How many people who live here send their children to school here?

How has institutional growth changed the community? How will it continue to

Who are those not connected to services/programs?

Are the needs different in different parts of the community, geographically, eth

and economically?The impact of Commonwealth Care, and outreach needed to establish connecti

We propose that Harvard University contribute to this effort as a primary funder to get

started and to reach success. We recommend that the needs assessment be funded se

community fund, which we endorse as a subsequent community benefit, and funded p

the process.

2. Community FundWe recommend the creation of a community fund that would support projects that me

defined by the assessment. We envision the fund supporting projects community-wide

significant portion should be committed to projects that benefit the part of the neighbo

impacted by Harvards expansion, i.e., North Allston/North Brighton (those areas north


6/108

We further recommend that the amount of community benefits paid into a community

respect to the Harvard Science Center and subsequent projects, be determined on a pe

with the cash benefits to the community equal to 1% of the total project construction c

the total square footage of each project at the amount of $5 a square foot. This determ

precedence for future projects which will allow the Allston Brighton community to plan

3. The Joseph M. Smith Community Health CenterWe further recommend a community benefit in support of a founding member of the A

Partnership for Community Health, the Joseph M. Smith Community Health Center (JM

JMSCHC has been providing quality primary healthcare to the Allston Brighton commun

It is the only community health center in Allston Brighton and the only comprehensive

medical provider in North Allston/North Brighton. JMSCHC is vital to the community anessential function in Allston Brighton, assuring the availability of affordable and compre

services to any and all residents and neighbors. The JMSCHC does not have a stable, pe

and it currently provides services in leased space owned by Harvard University. We rec

JMSCHC be granted a permanent independently-controlled home and that the relocati

construction of this new facility be funded by Harvard University as part of its commun

agreements.

We thank you for this opportunity to comment on the benefits needed by and due to o

Signed,

Members of the Allston Brighton Partnership for Community Health:

Nicole Banham, Principal,Boston Community Leadership Academy

Bill Burgey, Marketing Manger, Franciscan Hospital for Children

Elizabeth A. Breadon, 33 Champney Street, Brighton

Jeffrey Bryan, 58 Riverdale St., Allston

Christina Clamp, 7 Niles Street, Brighton

Sarah Correia-Eck, Treasurer, the Church of St Luke & St Margaret, Allston

Cheryl Cumings, 1662 Commonwealth Avenue, Brighton

Tamara Daly, RN BSN, 12 Priscilla Rd. BrightonLloyd David, EdD., Creative Workplace Learning, 311 Washington Street, Brighton

Carolyn Diviacchi, 24 Holton St., Allston

Randi Freundlich, Director of Community Programs, Family Nurturing Center

Sharon Goldstein, Early Childhood Center Director, New England Home for Little Wand

J li H dl 44 M d k S B i h


7/108

Simon (Chee) Low, 12 Hopedale Street, Allston

Mary A. McCarthy, 33 Champney Street, Brighton

Ellen M. McCrave, 58 Cresthill Rd., Brighton

Colleen McGuire, 35 Windom Street, Brighton, and Allston Brighton Family Network (a Family Nurturing Center)

City Councilor At Large Stephen J. Murphy

Kathleen P. Phenix, Executive Director, Joseph M. Smith Community Health Center

Chrasandra Reeves, MHA, Certif. MCH, Alliance Coordinator, Boston Alliance for Comm

Madelyn Rhenisch, 20A Winship Street, Brighton

Patrice Ryan, School Nurse, Boston Community Leadership Academy

Karen Smith, 40 Athol Street, AllstonBob Van Meter, Executive Director, Allston Brighton Community Development Corpora


8/108


9/108


10/108


11/108


12/108


13/108


14/108


15/108


16/108


17/108


18/108


19/108


20/108


21/108


22/108


23/108


24/108


25/108


26/108


27/108


28/108


29/108


30/108


31/108


32/108


33/108


34/108


35/108


36/108


37/108


38/108


39/108


40/108


41/108


42/108


43/108


44/108


45/108


46/108


47/108


48/108


49/108


50/108


51/108


52/108


53/108


54/108


55/108


56/108


57/108


58/108


59/108


60/108


61/108


62/108


63/108


64/108


65/108


66/108


67/108


68/108


69/108


70/108


71/108


72/108


73/108


74/108


75/108


76/108


77/108


78/108


79/108


80/108


81/108


82/108


83/108


84/108


85/108


86/108


87/108


88/108


89/108


90/108


91/108


92/108


93/108


94/108


95/108


96/108


97/108


98/108


99/108


100/108


101/108


102/108


103/108


104/108


105/108


106/108


107/108


108/108

harvard science complex dpir comments

Documents