City Approves Harvard Complex in Allston

After much wrangling and justifiable concern, Boston has approved Harvard University's plans to build what the Allston-Brighton TAB calls a "$1 billion science complex."

The complex was in doubt because the community wasn't happy with a benefits package that Harvard was going to give to the community. A massive science complex will bring plenty of change, not to mention traffic, and Allston wanted something in return. Here's what Harvard offered that met with the city's approval:

Harvard has since increased the package, to be distributed over ten years, to $23.9 million. Other changes to the cooperation agreement include a partnership fund to dole out $500,000 in grants over five years to neighborhood programs; expanding the education needs survey to include assessment of the community’s transportation, public health, and housing needs; a stated commitment to support a public-private partnership that will result in a “transformative project” in Allston-Brighton; and collaboration with the BRA to do something with the area west of Barry’s Corner.

Not everyone with the Harvard-Allston Task Force is happy about it, but building of the complex is scheduled to start in February, according to the TAB.

The Crimson has details on why the task force was worried about the package. Even though $23.9 million sounds like a lot of money, unless you're talking about the Big Dig, the task force felt that Harvard was "mandating" how the money would be spent and that Allston wouldn't really benefit. And starting construction on the project won't make those concerns go away.