Some community members remain optimistic about Harvard’s efforts to engage the community. John Cusack, one of two Task Force members sitting on the University’s committee for selecting a developer for Barry’s Corner, said he understands the concerns of his neighbors but trusts Harvard’s slower pace.

“To me, this is a starting point, and because of its importance, there was a certain amount of time it had to take,” he said. “I don’t want to make it sound like I was remotely happy with the wait, but the fact is, this is clearly a newly-defined approach which I hope will have positive implications for the community.”

Administrators hope that the University’s continued progress will eventually allay community concerns about development.

“Harvard Yard was not built in a day but evolved over 375 years. There were high-level guidelines established that shaped building over time,” Lapp said. “We are looking to do the same thing with the Master Plan in Allston.”

—Staff writer Mercer R. Cook can be reached at mcook@college.harvard.edu.

—Staff writer Radhika Jain can be reached at radhikajain@college.harvard.edu.