| on local politics and being a spy... |
[Sep. 10th, 2008|09:31 pm] |
So, BRA (Boston Redevelopment Authority) meeting tonight:
This was mostly boring. They reviewed what we already told them as a community. Not sure why this took an hour to go through. Still, I suppose it was fairly helpful in establishing that they can at least hear our concerns and write them down.
This was followed by an incredibly tedious presentation of how when universities and residents work together, it make unicorns cry kittens.
In between this was the usual angry shouting by residents, mostly to the effect that Harvard is becoming our evil, uncaring overlord. Also, there was that one guy who is still pissed off about the Kmart closing. Harvard actually had quite a few attendees apparently, but they all sat in silence when community leaders asked what it meant that the guy designated as their main contact missed half of the unicorn presentation because he was on a personal phone call. Seriously Harvard folks, a token gesture of "actually we are listening, and I have been taking notes for the last two hours" really couldn't hurt you at this point, though I suppose it would open you up to having to deal with some very confrontative people.
The actual useful part of the evening came mostly after the meeting...
Here's the deal: My hard-core concern is the Charlesview development. I want to know what is being done about the current and obviously unsuitable plan. So, I asked some folks. (because I am a super spy...) I wanted an on-the-ground take from some people who weren't residents, because I feel like that is the side of the story I have heard the least about.
What follows is my extensive paraphrasing and should not be taken as gospel by anyone.
The Harvard person I talked to (who seemed pretty nice, and not like the type of person who eats babies at all) said Charlesview was out of their hands and was the problem of the developer. The person also said that the residents need to pressure the BRA to do something about it. I'm not entirely sure if I follow their logic here, since part of the deal in the trade is that they are paying for the land and the new building. Presumably, if they sign the checks for the developer, that make them the boss, no? Even if the Charlesview board is involved?
That said, I asked the person if Harvard might be willing to open up some more of its land over there for the project so that the Charlesview could be more spread out and less problematic. I got neither a yes or no, but it did seem to be something Harvard would at least consider, so that is something.
The Harvard person was a lot more willing to talk about Barry's corner, feeling that it was more properly their purview.
Later, I cornered the BRA people who also seem pretty nice (and, I suspect hate coming to Allston and taking a lot of abuse from both sides). I asked what their take on the whole Charlesview thing was. They see themselves as referees in a situation where everyone has an axe to grind.
My take:
Residents need to consider that it is not outside the realm of possibility that we can actually work with Harvard. Even if they have been douchebags in the past.
Harvard needs to recognize that the community has some legitimate cause to consider the university feudal overlords. Seriously guys, you can't really be surprised by how everyone feels about this.
The BRA is in between a rock and a hard place, but needs to remember that they do hold the power in this scenario. Ultimately, the buck stops here. |
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