This story in today's Globe discusses the future of Barry's Corner. The story does get into the details of the "art warehouse" that Harvard wants to build in Barry's Corner or how Harvard wants to move private athletic facilities (pool, hockey rink, basketball court) into Barry's Corner to make room for dormitories along the river.
Maybe you will agree with me that this story merits a Letter to the Editor to explain how, despite Harvard's PR spin, there seems to be little real interest in making the great Barry's Corner that could one day exist. Here is the letter I submitted:
Harvard is not creating the ‘hub of activity’ at Barry's Corner in Allston that it would lead you to believe (“Harvard's Allston Expansion Plan Turning a Corner” - February 3). In fact, Harvard’s only planned Barry's Corner project would do just the opposite. This ‘art warehouse’ falls far short of the great public museum that Harvard could create and that Allston would welcome. Harvard has proposed a building that will mostly be used for office and storage space, and art would be displayed in less than 10% of the building. Barry’s Corner needs vibrant public buildings to become a world-class public space. But instead of ambitious projects to make the most of Allston’s wonderful potential, Harvard is creating a widening gulf between an attractive long-term vision and the disappointing reality of what Harvard plans to build.
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