All of these improvements have had to go in front of the Cambridge Historical Commission for approval, since Harvard Square is designated a conservation district.

According to Charles M. Sullivan, the executive director of the Cambridge Historical Commission, the sidewalks were one of the most controversial aspects of the project, inspiring much discussion about building materials. While bricks do meet all federal and state requirements for accessibility, some advocated for concrete sidewalks.

Laura E. Donohue ’85, the owner of Bob Slate Stationer, says that she appreciates the classic look of the granite and brick in Harvard Square. “It makes the Square look updated and historic at the same time, a vintage, timeless look. I would not want cement sidewalks. I love the bricks.”

She and her fellow brick advocates eventually won out.

Sullivan says that the update of Palmer Street just off of Brattle Street, which was part of the first phase, was also a hot-button issue. City planners wanted to replace the street’s bricks and cobblestones with decorative pavement designed by a New York-based artist, a plan that gained approval only after much discussion.

Cambridge officials have been mindful of keeping the community apprised of the construction projects. Regular emails have informed local residents and business owners of progress and plans.

“I feel like they’ve done a great job at achieving more of a balance then they’ve done in the past, keeping interest for residents, not everything geared to tourists,” says Robyn Culbertson, executive director of the Cambridge Office for Tourism.

PLANNING FOR A PIT STOP

With three phases of construction complete, Cambridge will continue street improvements but also take on larger public spaces left untouched by the beautification process so far.

In phase four of the plan that has long been in progress, the city will improve the portion of Mount Auburn Street between JFK and Holyoke Streets by repaving the street surface and laying new sidewalks.

In the past year, members of the former planning committee have also convened again to devise the most ambitious beautification project to date: a complete overhaul of Sheldon Cohen Island.

This new plan—the brainchild of DiGiovanni, Harvard Square Business Association Executive Director Denise A. Jillson, and other community members—would realize goals set down by the Harvard Square Initiative, the 2005-06 document issued after a year of community meetings.

The Initiative proposed the creation of a high-tech visitor center and called for “an interactive and automated digital display in a central Harvard Square location that provides visitor and event info.”

The current proposal recommends that the Out of Town News kiosk be converted to a glass-walled information center with interactive features like those laid out in the earlier document.

The plan also suggests that the Pit be spruced up with stadium seating, shrubbery, LED floor lights, a flat-screen display, and patio tables and chairs.