“It’s a place that people want to see what is going on,” Ferrara said. “It used to be exciting and interesting and inspiring. It really hasn’t been that way for 20 years.”

Trinity Property Management, a major Harvard Square property owner, leases both spaces of the new music venues.

“The idea of a live music venue is something that we think will really add to the character of Harvard Square,” said John P. DiGiovanni, president of Trinity Property Management.

DiGiovanni said that his company has spoken with officials at Harvard, but the University did not contribute to discussion about the new use of the spaces.

“We spoke with some folks over there just so they’re aware,” DiGiovanni said.

Yet Bhatti said he envisions eventual collaboration between the Sinclair and Harvard—perhaps hosting University events in the concert hall.

REACHING FOR THE HIGH NOTE

Alongside the new music offerings entering the neighborhood, existing venues in the Square are making improvements.

In the former home of the original House of Blues, Tommy Doyle’s, an Irish pub with a 165-person capacity, features bands several nights each week. Josh Caress, talent buyer, said that most of the bands who play at Tommy Doyle’s find out about the space because their friends’ bands played there or because it used to be the House of Blues.

But recently, the pub launched a website solely dedicated to the venue’s live music, hoping to attract more nationally recognized artists. Now, when looking for a small Boston-area venue to play, booking agents and artists will come across Tommy Doyle’s more easily.

An even older Harvard Square music standby, Club Passim, is also looking at revitalizing. Though the legendary folk music club has been at the same location at 47 Palmer St. since 1963, the operators discussed looking for a new address last May.

New firecodes had shrunk the venue’s capacity from 125 to 101 people. “We had to ask, can you survive with a 101-person venue, and is that the best model?” said Dan Hogan, executive director.

But the club’s long history felt compelling enough to convince its managers to keep it in Harvard Square.

Instead of moving, Club Passim will undergo renovations that may start as early as this summer, Hogan said. The space occupied by the Club is currently owned by Harvard, and Hogan hopes to partner with the University for the renovation.

Keeping the small setting, he said, provides the perfect intimate environment for appreciating great folk artists.