Town-gown relations between the University and Cambridge residents have never been golden. Unfortunately, they have been weakened again in recent years regarding Harvard's proposed designs for the Knafel Center. Prior to last Monday, neighbors to the proposed site and board members of the Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Conservation District Commission (MCNCDC) had spent years criticizing the plan for the building's massive size and its un-aesthetic design and pleading with Harvard to change its mind.

But in May--on the day the MCNCDC was expected to hand down their final decision on the project--Harvard placed its priority on the Cambridge community rather than the center's construction by presenting a newly redesigned center. We commend the University for their decision to submit new Knafel center design plans to the MCNCDC that take the city and the residents of Cambridge--and not just the University--into consideration.

In doing so, the University has added months to the construction process of the building, which is already quickly approaching its third year. Even so, this change of plans will at least symbolically mend relations between Cambridge citizens and the University. Harvard's willingness to negotiate with its town about the Knafel Center-rather than strut to city hall with its $19 billion endowment in tow-will hopefully open an era of negotiation and dialogue between the city and the University.