Hailing a “breakthrough” in their historically contentious relationship with Harvard, members of the Agassiz Neighborhood Council (ANC) agreed last night to support the construction of a science research building that will house laboratory mice.

The Biological Research Infrastructure (BRI), a two-level, 75,000 square-foot underground facility, will be located below the courtyard of the Biological Laboratories off Divinity Avenue.

The BRI will include 16,000 cages, a significant increase from the 6,000 cages that Harvard currently has.

The facility is close enough to a residential area that the neighbors worried about mass mouse escapes.

But after Harvard promised to consider a neighborhood “wish list,” residents voted 23-0 not to block the building.

“This is one small scurry for mice, and one giant step forward for the Agassiz neighborhood,” said City Councillor Brian Murphy after the meeting, at which both sides expressed optimism about recent progress.

This cooperation comes as Harvard is embarking on significant North Yard construction projects. Last week, the Harvard Corporation approved another science building for the area, which is the site of two parts of the University in dire need of more space: the Harvard Law School and the science departments of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS).

William Bloomstein of the Agassiz Committee on the Impacts of Development (ACID) said at last night’s ANC meeting that Harvard had been responsive to neighbors’ concerns about the ongoing expansion.

He said ACID representatives met recently with University officials—including Vice President of Government, Community and Public Affairs Alan J. Stone—and that both sides were prepared to work together on a compromise.

“It was clear to us that Harvard means what it says,” Bloomstein said. “Harvard has agreed to come to the table with some significant long-term benefits.”

At last month’s ANC meeting, members voted to present Harvard with a “wish list” of concessions they want to receive in return for their support of development projects.

Harvard officials confirmed last night that they were meeting with ACID members and were negotiating about points on the list, which includes such items as increasing open space, traffic control projects and a contribution to a neighborhood trust fund.

“We’ve begun active discussions about a mutually beneficial relationship,” said Senior Director of Community Relations Mary H. Power.

Bloomstein said that based on the ongoing “good faith” negotiations, ACID members were willing to support the mouse research center.