An Allston Pledge for Harvard

Harvard created a "Kindness Pledge" for freshmen and an "MBA Oath" for business school graduates. In my article on page 10 of this Occupy Harvard publication I ask what Harvard might say in an "Allston Pledge".

State Senate Candidates Forum for the Second Suffolk & Middlesex district

Thursday, December 8

6:00 pm    Meet-and-Greet with the candidates & light refreshments (contributed by Athan's)
6:30 pm    Candidates Forum

Elks Lodge, 326 Washington Street, Brighton Center, parking at rear of building (enter lot from Winship Street)

Sponsor:    Brighton Allston Improvement Association

Moderator:    Michael Pahre, Editor, Brighton Centered Blog

On Tuesday, December 13, a special election will be held to fill the state senate seat vacated by Steve Tolman in the Second Suffolk & Middlesex district, which includes most of Allston and Brighton, parts of the Back Bay, Fenway and Cambridge, and all of Watertown and Belmont.  Join us to meet the candidates!

To check if you live in this district, visit www.wheredoivotema.com

Residential booming in Boston, but Harvard is quiet

The Globe reported yesterday on 5 new residential projects that would combine to create more than 1,400 new units of housing in Boston.

Two months ago Harvard seemed eager to move ahead with planning for new housing in Barry's Corner, and their consultant mentioned having more public meetings in October. But October came and went with no meetings and no news about how Harvard plans to proceed. Which is too bad, because if done right new housing and retail in Barry's Corner could be a great improvement to the area.
Another wave of apartment construction to hit Boston - The Boston Globe
Investors in multifamily housing developments are taking advantage of a fortuitous turn of events: rising rents, low vacancy rates, and interest rates below 4 percent - a combination that translates to unusually hefty profits.
"There has never been a better time in the last 40 years to develop a multifamily project in Boston" said George Fantini, chairman of the mortgage banking firm Fantini & Gorga.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino and other city officials said they are receiving proposals for new housing projects every day. “I have investors coming to me and saying, ‘What opportunities do you have? How can we be involved?’ ’’ Menino said. “I haven’t seen that in a while.’’

Renting To Four Or More College Students Is Illegal

A recent court ruling could have a significant impact on off-campus student housing in Allston, Brighton, and across the state.

The Toga Party Is Over: Renting To Four Or More College Students Is Illegal Lodging House | The Massachusetts Real Estate Law Blog
"...the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that renting to 4 or more unrelated students in one apartment unit is an illegal “lodging house” unless a special license is obtained.

...using the College Hill ruling, housing authorities, who want to crack down on unruly, crowded apartment dwellers, may seek to require lodging licenses for apartments occupied by 4 or more unrelated persons."

Yet another possibility for Harvard's vacant Allston land

I agree the the Mayor and others quoted in this story that kids on skateboarders shouldn't be messing up fancy granite fountains. So how about find some more appropriate place, like maybe on some of Harvard's property that is just sitting vacant?

Rondo, Pierce & friends coming to Allston

Rondo Hosts Boston Charity Classic Basketball Game:

Rajon Rondo will host the ”Boston Charity Classic” this Saturday at 6pm ET, with proceeds benefitting local Boston charities providing holiday meals and support to families in the Boston area.

Scheduled participants in the game include Rondo, Paul Pierce, Glen Davis, Marquis Daniels, Josh Smith, Kendrick Perkins, Rudy Gay, Leon Powe, Jeff Green, Kevin Durant, JaJuan Johnson, Jeremy Lin and Kyle Lowry among others.

Tickets will be available to the public on Tuesday, November 15th and can be purchased through the Harvard Athletics Box office either in person or via phone (65 North Harvard St. Boston, MA 02163 – 617.495.2211). Box office hours are 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Tickets are $50 for general admission, $100 for courtside seating, and parking is $10 at the arena.

Ed Portal expands into expiring space

Seems strange that Harvard is spending money to renovate a building that is supposed to be demolished in a couple years to build graduate student housing in Barry's Corner.

Ed Portal Builds New Annex | News | The Harvard Crimson:

Today's Callie Crossley Show

The Callie Crossley Show today featured an interview with two Harvard professors who would like to see researchers at Harvard and other Boston-area universities focus more of their research on issues directly relevant to the city.
"We kick off WGBH's "Where We Live" series with the city-university connection. Boston is home to some of the world's best research institutions and leading experts on urban issues such as poverty and crime. Though Boston is the perfect place to study societal issues, the city's scholars usually go outside greater Boston—opting to study cities like Lagos or Los Angeles. A new initiative out of Harvard University's Radcliffe Institute is aiming to change this. The goal is to have our universities collaborate with city officials to examine how the city works, how it fails, and the policy changes that can make this a better place to live."

Harvard School of Public Health Ponders Allston

If Harvard is still considering which schools might occupy the Science Complex on Western Ave, it will be many years before those decisions will be made, the planning completed, the buildings redesigned, and construction resumed.

School of Public Health Looks to Expand in Allston | News | The Harvard Crimson

With the recent approval of the Harvard Allston Work Team’s recommendations for Allston, the School of Public Health may now have a renewed hope for moving to the site of the formerly-planned Allston Science Complex....

Just as when Bloom was dean, those who work at the School of Public Health are divided on the possibility of moving to Allston.
But moving into Allston is not without its complications. The School of Public Health has had a presence in Longwood since 1913 and its own building in the area since 1923, a history that faculty members say complicates the possibility of moving.

Dockery says that, over the years, the School of Public Health has also developed “very strong connections” with the neighboring Medical School.

“I think we’re torn,” he says.

Professor Alberto Ascherio expressed a similar opinion in an email.

“Because of our close connections with the Harvard Medical School, I would prefer to remain in the medical area,” Ascherio wrote.

Kudos to Ray for the Well-Deserved Honor

Allston Park Renamed After Resident | News | The Harvard Crimson