But this was not the promise people heard at the Allston Civic Association.
"If you spoke to anybody after the news came out, the feeling was that this would not happen again, and now we're getting second doubts as the dust is beginning to settle, "said State Rep . Steven Tolman. "This causes me great concern as a representative of the people in Allston-Brighton....Clearly, hearing this news I am astonished. "
Rowe added Saturday night that regardless of the President's policies, no straw purchasing is currently taking place in Allston.
"I am not aware of any plans to acquire any other parcels in Allston-Brighton, " he said. "People have approached us with all sorts of offers, but we're now concerned with planning for the long-term use of the land [we have]. "
There is also debate now as to whether Rudenstine ever promised Menino that he would not engage in third-party purchasing again while he was president, as McCluskey had stated.
Rudenstine refused to comment on his conversations with the mayor, but in an interview Friday night Rowe said, "In a meeting we had with the mayor back in the summer, President Rudenstine said he would not do a straw purchase of that nature in Boston. "
The key words may be "of that nature, "because the Mayor's Press Secretary Jacque Goddard, said Menino did not remember Rudenstine's specifically promising not to do third party purchasing.
After hearing Rudenstine's position and his refusal to explicitly rule out future secret purchases, Goddard said the mayor had the same understanding of Rudenstine's position, though the mayor does not condone the practice. "[Rudenstine] is accurate, then, in his position, "she said.
This latest development is the most recent in a string of conflicts caused by the University's announcement.
Menino responded sharply in June to Harvard's announcement of the purchases, writing to Rudenstine to "condemn" Harvard's actions.
"For Harvard University to suddenly reveal itself as the owner of numerous properties in Allston represents the highest level of arrogance seen in our city in many years, "he wrote.
Allston residents were equally outraged at the June 25th Allston Civic Association meeting.
Of the more than 30 speakers heard during the four-hour meeting, almost all criticized-often sharply-the University's secret purchases.
"Did they have a conscience? " Sylvia Crystal asked of the Harvard Corporation, the University's highest governing board. "This was just plain deception. "
Despite residents' surprise, Harvard has a history of buying land through a third party to prevent land owners from inflating their prices, according to Sally H. Zeckhauser, vice president for administration. In particular, the land where the College's river houses now sit was bought this way.
Other Allston residents contacted this weekend-having heard and bemoaned the University's first announcement-did not seem especially shocked about Rudenstine's most recent statement.
"I think so many people were so cynical about the thing that perhaps they didn't take too seriously what [Harvard officials] were saying, " said John T. Trumpbour, an Allston resident who did graduate work at Harvard. "These people were doing public relations, and the real powerful people-like Rudenstine-weren't even there. "