While Cambridge residents have reservations about having students so close to residential areas, Allston looks to benefit from the addition of students.

"Hopefully, it will bring some life back to the streets," Berkeley said.

The inlux of students to the area will most likely help local businesses as well.

"Students have a great amount of purchasing power," Harvard's Speigelman says. "It makes the quality of living better."

Allston residents' relations with the University have been smooth for the most part. While they, like their Cambridge counterparts, have asked to be included in planning, Harvard has acquiesced.

"We have had a very productive working relationship," says Kevin A. McCluskey '76, Harvard's director of community relations for Boston. "I view the process not so much as them working against Harvard's future growth, but working with us to ensure that Harvard's future growth in Allston benefits the residents of Allston as well as the members of the Harvard community."

Getting the Message

The lesson Harvard's development office seems to have learned from Cambridge is that, even with plans far into the future, little is possible without the approval and support of the surrounding community.