Competition

But according to City Councilor Alfred E. Vellucci, talk of aesthetic appeal is only a cloak for Harvard Square businessmen's fear of competition with national chains.

"Fast food places are getting classier and classier," said Vellucci, explaining that places like MacDonalds do not negatively affect an area's character.

"The greedy businessmen just want to keep other business out. They're afraid these chains will take their business away," said the outspoken East Cambridge councilor.

Gifford disagreed, saying that the discouragement of fast food places is part of a larger concern about the "quality of life in the Square."

Concerns about traffic and crime problems, for example, motivated the Fund's efforts to block the building of a Dunkin' Donuts in Harvard Square in the mid-1970's. "We studied the Dunkin' Donuts in Porter Square and counted something like 40 or 50 trucks stopped there between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Can you imagine that in Harvard Square?" she added. The rate of "incidents of trouble" was also augmented at the two stores which were open all night, she said.

"It is not a convenience issue, it's what's best for the area," Gifford said. The existence of national fast food chains would mean the end of Square mainstays such as Bartley's and Elsie's, she added.