#5 – Harvard University Over Time + Local Issues

 Since its founding in 1636, Harvard University’s growth has greatly impacted Harvard Square. The school’s property has expanded immensely over time, reducing the available space to other businesses and institutions, as well as causing the real estate prices to increase. In addition, however, the college serves to bring great business to the Square, with both students and visiting tourists frequenting the local businesses. The college was originally centered around the yard, with only a few college buildings designated for classrooms, offices, and housing. For centuries, the college’s developments were still relatively contained in this area. 

This map from 1877 shows the College structures on the yard, as well as the businesses centered around the square that were supported by the college’s proximity. It also indicates the amount of undeveloped natural land surrounding the square’s center. 

In the early 1900s, the Radcliffe Quadrangle was developed for housing the female students. In addition, the land between Harvard Yard and the Charles River was gifted to the school, where most of the Houses sit today. In 1920, Harvard University purchased the “Gold Coast” dormitories, and around 1930, began plans for the “House System,” which was originally seven upperclassmen dorms outside of the Yard. Over the following forty years, the college expanded rapidly with the construction of each of these houses. 

This pictorial map from 1976 shows the college’s expansion with the addition of the houses. It also has all of the Harvard Square businesses labeled, many of which still stand today. 


The college continues to purchase new property, and this map from 2020 shows the immense percentage of Harvard Square that is owned by Harvard University today. With much of the land between the yard and the river now occupied by the University, it continues to expand both North and across the river. 

Harvard’s most recent development, the Science & Engineering Complex (illustrated above), has been the topic of much conversation as it expands Harvard’s reach from the Square to more neighboring areas. Harvard had already expanded across the river into Allston with the Harvard Business School, Innovation Labs, and the athletics complex. The new John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, however, sits on a 36-acre piece of land across the river. This brings Harvard’s land ownership to over 600 acres, spanning across Cambridge, Allston, Boston, and Somerville. This expansion has been criticized for contributing to the gentrification of Allston and for altering the character of the area. Despite the negative backlash, the building has been viewed as a great success for the University in establishing its strength as an engineering institution.  

 

City Council (10/17)

  • The City Manager had many communications primarily regarding the allocations of funds, such as a Public Safety and Security Program funding the Police Department Salary and Wages, a Housing and Urban Development grant, and a Children’s Trust Fund grant going to the salary of programming staff. Many of these grants were concerning low-income housing, public health, and emergency food and shelter. 

  • Permission was granted for a new curb cut on Channing Street, and the Traffic, Parking, and Transportation Department was told to meet with a variety of councils and committees focused on pedestrians, bicyclists, people with disabilities, and aging citizens. They were to create an updated guide for throughout the city and receive recommendations from the various groups.

  • There were many items listed as unfinished business, ranging from linkage fees to parking curfews to fur sales bans and wage theft. 

  • For applications and petitions, these were specific changes to signage and curb cuts, as well as Professor Blier’s petition for the Frontage of Financial Institutions.

  • There were also committee reports regarding potential changes to the City Council Rules that focused on the communication and collaboration between different committees and councils throughout the city. 

Planning Board (10/18) 

  • There was a special permit requested to allow the delivery of cannabis products to customers, and a petition to amend the language regarding incentive zoning nexus studies to allow greater flexibility regarding timelines. 

Cambridge Historical Commission (11/3) 

  • There were six public hearings regarding the alterations to designated properties. These alterations ranged from installing posts for bike lanes, new story additions, removing fire escapes, replacing windows and installing new signs to constructing new structures like a garage. 

Sources:

Maps

Meeting Agendas

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