The Allston Exception

In this editorial in today's Globe, I read that "Nearly every neighborhood in the city has improved under Menino". Having lived in Allston since year after Menino was elected I was puzzled by this statement but then nodded in agreement at the next one:

"The major exception is the part of Allston slated to become a new campus for Harvard University. Menino lost track of Harvard as it acquired property stealthily through proxies during the late 1990s. And he could only look on powerlessly when the economy faltered and Harvard shelved much of its plan to build 10 million square feet of new building space, leaving neighbors complaining about the vacant buildings in their midst."

While I would agree that Menino can't do much when Harvard decides to stop its Allston construction, I doubt that he is "powerless" when it comes to negotiating with Harvard to allow development on more land to create a better new Charlesview.

Thanks to the Globe for remembering our situation here.