“That was a really hard thing in the neighborhood when [construction on Harvard’s science complex] stopped,” he said, referring to President Drew G. Faust’s decision to pause construction of a billion-dollar science complex in Allston in 2009.
Cusack said he sees the Samuels project as an important test that could instill confidence from the community for Harvard’s future construction projects.
“It’s going to be one heck of a white elephant if that doesn’t [go well],” Cusack said.
John A. Bruno, another task force member, expressed the need to address the potential infrastructural strain of the influx of residents to Barry’s Corner. Bruno also mentioned the importance of including housing in the community benefits package associated with the University’s approved IMP.
He said that people have a greater stake in the community with home ownership, although he raised the need to include affordable housing and rentals in a community benefits proposal.
A revised community benefits proposal is due to BRA by Nov. 20 for board review. The task force’s proposal will respond to a $28 million community benefits package Harvard put forward earlier this month.
—Staff writer Marco J. Barber Grossi can be reached at mbarbergrossi@college.harvard.edu. Follow him on Twitter @marco_jbg.