Though it has taken some time, the agreement with Boston heralds a new era in Harvard-Boston relations marked by Grogan's appointment last January and a renewed desire on both sides to settle old scores, according to Boston and University officials.

"The big breakthrough was the appointment of Paul Grogan," said Harvey V. Fineberg '67, University Provost. "He has personal experience and inclination. He knows City Hall."

"Relations with Boston are probably the best they have ever been," Fineberg added.

Grogan has held a number of senior posts in the Boston city government, where he managed housing, social services, job training and neighborhood economic development programs. He was also director of the Neighborhood Development and Employment Agency.

He assumed the Harvard post when relations with Boston were fraught with tension. Relations had gone downhill in 1997, when the University announced that it had secretly purchased 52.6 acres in Allston. Working through a Boston real estate developer, Harvard bought $88 million worth of land over nine years, concealing its real identity to prevent sellers from overcharging the wealthy University.

Thus, one of the first items on Grogan's agenda was to reach closure on the negotiations over payment in lieu of taxes.

"They were kind of waiting for me to come," Grogan said. "In theory negotiations like this could go on forever."

There was an "expectation that we would pick up the pace," Grogan added.