90 Antwerp Street in Allston, known as the Brookline Machine building, is finally Harvard University property. The 7/10ths of an acre property, assessed for $1,714,500 was sold by its former owner to Harvard on December 16, 2008.
As with many of Harvard's previous purchases, they created a short-lived holding company to purchase the property. This time they named it Crown Mechanic LLC, created it on 12/11/08, and merged it into Harvard Real Estate Allston Inc. on 12/26/08.
As with many of Harvard's previous purchases, they created a short-lived holding company to purchase the property. This time they named it Crown Mechanic LLC, created it on 12/11/08, and merged it into Harvard Real Estate Allston Inc. on 12/26/08.
Harvard may be facing a hiring freeze and thriftier holiday parties, but money to buy up more of Allston continues to flow.
This property is particularly interesting because it abuts the Brighton Mills Shopping Center and where Harvard would like to see the new Charlesview Apartments built. It seems probably that it will be used to expand the Charlesview site which would be a good thing if it leads to a more diverse, mixed-income neighborhood. Hopefully it doesn't turn into another blight like Harvard's CITGO station.
Hi Harry,
ReplyDeleteDuring the last Tenant Sub committee meeting that was held in December. at the Charlesview Apartments. Felecia from the Community Builders Stated that if they had to renegotiate the terms of the Land Swap with Harvard University they would Consider it. they also stated that the DEAL IS STILL ON TO BUILD THE NEW CHARLESVIEW APARTMENTS AND THEY WILL STILL BRAKE GROUND IN THE FALL OF 2009. Anything they state to the Tenants would have to be kept PRIVATE,BECAUSE IT IS A PRIVATE MATTER. I asked why, but was not given a "GOOD ANSWER".
So I think the "Charlesview Board" And "The Community Builders" NEED TO GET OFF THEIR BIG FAT BUTS AND GET TO WORK AND DO SOMETHING FOR THEIR TENANTS INSTEAD OF STALLING FOR THE PAST YEAR WHILE WE FREEZE,AND HAVE WET HALLWAYS STILL.
I ALSO THINK THEY SHOULD GET RID OF THERE CURRENT MANAGEMENT STAFF WHO TREAT THERE TENANTS LIKE S%*T.
WE COMPLAIN TO THE CHARLESVIEW BOARD PRESIDENT AND WE WERE TOLD THEY DID NOT WANT TO HEAR WHAT WE HAD TO SAY ABOUT S-C MANAGEMENT ON HOW WE ARE TREATED BY THEM.
Just A Concern Charlesview Resident, jimmy
That's a good point. As long as Harvard is treating the residents like more pieces in their puzzle, how can they use the conditions of the residents to force through a land swap out on the edge of their future property? Will Harvard really be more responsive when the residents are out on the invisible edge once again?
ReplyDeleteIf the residents stayed in the middle of the Allston campus you can bet those buildings would be fixed up.
What do you mean 'turn into a blight'? That building is awful and couldn't look worse.
ReplyDeleteThey couldn't even board up the windows, since there aren't any.
Nobody said the building is a work or art. If it ends up sitting vacant like so many of Harvard's other buildings it certainly could end up looking worse.
ReplyDeleteImpossible. It is an above ground bomb shelter.
ReplyDelete