“We’ve looked at some locations,” said Cohn, “but the nature of a discussion means that there’s give and take on both sides. The search continues, and we remain optimistic.”
In addition to the hurdle of the building restrictions that would be imposed by local and federal agencies, the residents, led by Giovanditto, are calling for a locale which has easy access to public transportation and is near stores and the library.
“A brand new complex from Harvard sounds pretty good,” said Giovanditto, “but it’s going to depend on location, location, location.”
“If we’re put somewhere on Soldier’s Field Road where it’s three blocks to get to a bus, and it’s hard for folks to get to a supermarket, then it’s not going to happen,” she said.
Other demands the residents are seeking include a greenhouse, an elderly common room, larger living rooms and central air conditioning, according to Giovanditto, who surveyed the residents in October. She has prepared a Powerpoint presentation that highlights residents’ requests, which she plans to present at the next advisory board meeting in early March.
Giovanditto said that residents are much more confident in the negotiations process than they were this time last year, when she founded the tenants’ association out of concerns that residents’ interests were not being represented.
“People were more upset about not having a place to live,” she said. “Rumor going around was that ‘Oh my God they’re going to buy it and we’re going to be on the street.’”
“A lot of the stress [disappeared] once it was made public,” she added.
Ava Chan, a member of the Allston Community Development Corporation, who has been helping the tenants organize, calls the process itself as a sign of goodwill and progress in a community that has long been suspicious of the University.
“It seems to me that the tenants are really happy to be working with Harvard on this,” she said. “The fact that the residents and the owners and Harvard are discussing this can only be a constructive thing.”
While details of a possible deal are still hazy, some say that Charlesview hopes to retain ownership of their current property for the time being even if the building is relocated—lending, not giving their land to Harvard.
Cohn said that both sides could reach an agreement by the end of the year.
Harvard has a keen interest in the property.
Charlesview’s location in the heart of North Allston would provide the University with an opportunity to develop a center to the new campus and would revitalize an area currently defined by a Dunkin’ Donuts, a gas station and autobody repair shops.
University spokesperson Lauren M. Marshall said Harvard hopes to reach an agreement “that maintains affordable housing for the Charlesview community in Allston-Brighton, helps to preserve affordable housing alternatives in Boston and supports Harvard’s future.”
Giovanditto said she is optimistic about a deal with Harvard and that many other residents would also be willing to move if it meant better facilities.
“You give anyone some time to accept change, and as long as change is for the better, people are happy with that,” she said, before hinting at another demand: “As long as they wouldn’t have to pay money for movers.”
—Staff writer Alex L. Pasternack can be reached at apastern@fas.harvard.edu.
—Staff writer Jessica R. Rubin-Wills can be reached at rubinwil@fas.harvard.edu.