CJAB’s vision is outlined in its entirety in a 19-page letter that has been sent to Mayor Michelle Wu.
To summarize, CJAB seeks the following commitments from Harvard as it moves forward with the development of its land in Allston and Brighton:
Community outreach
Establish a robust system for community outreach in Allston and Brighton that utilizes active strategies and seeks to minimize barriers to participation in order to engage with the neighborhood’s diverse population
Comprehensive planning
Create a comprehensive framework plan that encompasses all Harvard-owned land intended for development in Allston and Brighton
Take accountability for all projects built on Harvard land in Allston and Brighton, including the three active projects currently under review by the City
Housing
Include significant numbers of housing units across all development projects constructed on Harvard-owned land in Allston and Brighton to meet the demand for living spaces from both current and new residents
Find innovative ways to ensure that ⅓ (33%) of all housing units within residential developments built on Harvard owned-land are income-restricted units available at Area Median Incomes (AMIs) ranging from 30% to 80%
Contribute to the establishment and ongoing operation of an Allston-Brighton Community Land Trust (CLT)
Sustainability
Develop and share a clear plan that outlines the strategies that Harvard, HALC, and its development partners will use to meet the requirements of the City’s Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO) 2.0 Ordinance
Center environmental justice communities in Allston-Brighton in all climate resiliency efforts, initiatives, and programs
Transit and mobility
Working with Boston, the Commonwealth and the MBTA, Harvard must develop ambitious plans to significantly reduce reliance on cars as a means of transportation to and from Harvard-owned developments in Allston and Brighton
Open/green space
Fund an open space needs assessment for Allston and Brighton
Create a plan for Harvard-owned land and nearby available spaces in Allston-Brighton that envisions a robust network of green space and green infrastructure connecting the neighborhood to the Charles River
Achieve a tree canopy coverage percentage above and beyond the City mean of 27% on every development project constructed on Harvard-owned property
Commercial space
Designate at least 33% of retail/commercial space included in each development constructed on Harvard-owned land as affordable retail space reserved for small-scale, Boston-based business
Education
Work cooperatively with the Wu Administration, the Boston Public Schools, the Boston Teachers Union, and school communities to expand existing partnerships the Gardner Pilot Academy (GPA) and the Gardener Adult Education Program and establish an extensive partnership with Brighton High School
Arts and culture
Include a significant number of income-restricted artist live/work units and a significant amount of dedicated creative industry workspace within development constructed on Harvard-owned land
Labor
Establish educational and training programs that will enable better access to well-paying jobs within the life sciences industry for Boston residents, particularly for BIPOC community members
Commit to stringent compliance with the City of Boston’s Resident Jobs Policy through the implementation of Access and Opportunity Committees for development construction on Harvard-owned land
When feasible, commit to the use of unionized labor during and after construction
Read CJAB’s Letter to Mayor Wu
CJAB’s vision is outlined in its entirety in a letter that has been sent to Mayor Michelle Wu. Please see below to access both an executive summary of this letter and the letter itself.