For two years philosophical differences between Boston and Harvard drew the discussions out and made compromise difficult, according to Ron W. Rakow, a Boston commissioner.
"Harvard feels they are not required" to make payments, Rakow said. "We feel we are impeded by exemptions."
He added that had Boston and Harvard not reached an agreement, the city would have continued to push. "It was really just getting over the hurdle of why Harvard should pay," Rakow said.
According to Grogan, however, Harvard was willing from the beginning to make the payments and just needed to work out the details.
By coming through with the agreement, the University has opened doors for the future, Grogan said.
"It's going to be easier than it would have been" to discuss the 52.6 acres in Allston when Harvard decides to develop the land, Grogan said. "We have achieved better relations, better communication with the city."
The city, meanwhile, has been forced to acknowledge the importance of the University, he added.
Read more in News
Restaurant to Host Burger-Eating RaceRecommended Articles
-
Council Debates University Tax StatusHarvard was the topic of discussion at last night's City Council meeting, as city administrators presented a detailed report explaining
-
Report Discusses Harvard's Impact on RegionHarvard is sometimes portrayed as a parasite to its Boston and Cambridge communities, but a study commissioned by the University
-
Looking For LandOnly three years after the University was criticized by a number of Boston officials and residents for anonymously buying land
-
University Wins Land Auction With $151M BidThe University dipped into its swollen coffers yesterday, cementing its plans for future development across the Charles River with a
-
MTA Clears Harvard's Allston Land PurchaseThe Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA) formally approved the sale of 48 acres of Allston land to Harvard for $151 million
-
Grogan To Head Boston FoundationPaul S. Grogan will become the new president of a major Boston philanthropic organization this summer, ending his brief tenure
