Grogan says he believes the development will eventually succeed as a result of the support Harvard has received from the city.

"We accept that it's just very difficult to build in this environment," he says. "But particularly in Boston, there's a kind of 'let's-get-it-done' attitude."

Menino's letter came on the heels of sustained protest from Allston community members who complained that Harvard's plan would create yet another building along the Charles River that is too tall and is oriented with its back toward Allston residents.

"To us, it was very obvious that the building wasn't facing us. It was facing the river," says Paul Berkeley, the president of the Allston Civic Association. "And the height of the building was very objectionable."

Berkeley says that during negotiations, Harvard had already altered their plans, making what he describes as "token gestures," cutting the tower down from 22 to 21 stories and enlarging the entrance on the Allston side. But the changes were not sufficient for Allston residents, and Berkeley says the mayor made the right decision by stepping in.

But like the mayor, Berkeley says he lauds Harvard's improved relationship with the city. He says the recent clash over graduate student housing is only a step toward the developing reciprocal association between the city and the University.

"We have supported pretty much everything Harvard has proposed up to this project," he says. "It's good for us as a community to stay close to Harvard and then to try to influence Harvard to build in ways that we agree with."