Boston City Council considers taxing universities for future expansion projects into neighborhoods

Council considers taxing universities for future expansion projects into neighborhoods - News

In response to Boston-area universities' plans to expand their campuses into local neighborhoods, city councilors are considering a proposal that would tax new university buildings in the future. In response to Boston-area universities' plans to expand their campuses into local neighborhoods, city councilors are considering a proposal that would tax new university buildings in the future.

Universities, which are currently exempt from taxes on the construction of new buildings, would have to pay for any future expansion projects under terms of the proposal introduced by Councilor-at-Large Felix Arroyo during yesterday's meeting at City Hall.

The proposal comes as Harvard University finalizes the details for the first 20 years of a 50-year plan that would expand its main campus across the Charles River into Allston, where residents have expressed concerns that Harvard's expansion will negatively change the community.

Councilor Jerry McDermott (Allston, Brighton) said Allston residents have been frustrated by the university's upcoming expansion. He did not, however, support Arroyo's proposal.