It has undertaken several initiatives to do so. The most major one came this fall, when Harvard announced a multi-million dollar initiative using University money to fund affordable housing in Cambridge and Boston over the next 20 years.

And it's putting its money where its mouth is, working with neighborhoods on future projects that will benefit both Harvard and the residents.

Although still very much in the preliminary stages of discussion, the University is working on plans for creating a new museum of modern art on a site along the Charles River that Harvard currently leases to Mahoney's Garden Center.

Cabot Director of the Harvard University Art Museums James Cuno sent out two batches of letters to Cambridge community members in February and November to inform them of the idea.

"We were interested in letting the community know that we were exploring the possibility for a museum," Power says. "We wanted to share as much information as possible."

Architect Renzo Piano's preliminary sketches for the possible project were also included in the letter to neighbors.

While residents have been skeptical of Harvard's development in the past, the University hopes that getting out ideas and thoughts early will ease the process.

"This has the possibility of being positively received," says Martha Eddison Sieniewicz, a Riverside neighborhood resident and representative of the Joint Committee for Neighborhood and Harvard Consultation. "I am hopeful, since this is one of the last parcels of land to develop, that we can work together with the University to bring something very positive."