The same hopes exist in Allston. After the University's original purchase of land across the river, Harvard wanted to do something in order to show goodwill toward the city, so it donated a portion of land to the city in order to build an Allston branch public library.
Although the University is not involved with the designing or building of the future library, the architectural firm for the building, Machado & Silvetti, is the same firm being used for Harvard's graduate student housing project in Allston. A groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the library will be held today.
With last year's hiring of Grogan--a specialist in town-gown relations--the University is making a conscious effort to be a good neighbor.
"It's about explaining ourselves and making our role visible," Grogan says.
As the giant of a university tends to community concerns, it seems it is no longer just looking out for number one.