Tata Hall IMPNF-PNF Comments With Attachment
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Transcript of Tata Hall IMPNF-PNF Comments With Attachment
8/6/2019 Tata Hall IMPNF-PNF Comments With Attachment
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June 20, 2011
Michael F. Glavin
Deputy Director for Institutional Development
Boston Redevelopment Authority
Boston City Hall
Boston, MA 02201
Re: Tata Hall
Dear Mr. Galvin:
Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) has reviewed the Institutional Master Plan
Notification Form / Project Notification Form (IMPNF / IMP) for the Fourth Amendment to the
Harvard University Allston Campus IMP for the above mentioned project submitted by Harvard
University (Harvard) and offers the following comments to assist the Boston Redevelopment
Authority (BRA) with the project review.
The fact that this project is being proposed under an amendment to the IMP submitted by
Harvard in 1997 is problematic to start with. Not only has Harvard’s vision for its IMP evolved
considerably from what it was in 1997, the City and the neighborhood residents, amongst other
stakeholders, have also since undertaken several years of comprehensive planning that has
embraced more system-wide thinking for the development of North Allston. We therefore urgeHarvard and the BRA to ensure that this project encompasses the overarching goals for public
access and environmental sustainability established by the larger planning framework and goes
beyond the site specific scope for its infrastructure design.
As shown in Fig.1, a concept sketch developed by CRWA in 2007 as part of its master plan
recommendations to Harvard (http://www.crwa.org/projects/ESUD/AllstonScienceHandout.pdf ),
the site for Tata Hall, by virtue of its location, is critical not only for providing improved public
access through the campus to the River but also for improving the health of the River itself.
Given the exacerbated flooding occurring in the neighborhood, following even minor rain events
and poor water quality in the River in close proximity to the outfall draining the site, the design
of the site should take into consideration the entire engineered sub-watershed. In addition toexploring opportunities for off-line stormwater treatment and storage via a constructed wetland
system, as part of the site landscape design and engineering, a variety of green infrastructure
retrofits need to be incorporated in the design of the Project to address stormwater runoff quality,
quantity and peak flow attenuation. At a minimum the project should comply with the Total
Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Nutrients in the Lower Charles River Basin and Pathogen
TMDL for the Charles River Watershed. It is therefore critical that stormwater management
design for the project be undertaken at the sub-watershed level and the calculations
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accompanying the design be documented explicitly in the Draft Project Impact Report (DPIR).
As part of making a successful greenway connection from the neighborhood to the Charles River
and its parklands, such as that shown in Fig. 1, Harvard should improve access to and the
condition of the parkland adjoining the River and the existing River crossings at the Weeks
footbridge and Western Avenue. River and park access has been consistently identified as a high
priority for the neighborhood, and has appeared as a regional need in various park and regional
Master Plans. These improvements should be a part of mitigating the impacts of building on
this last remaining piece of open space on this section of the River. In addition to the above, theheight and the massing of Tata Hall need to be articulated so as to prevent the gradual
“canyonization” of the River occurring with buildings like One Western Ave.
Finally, given the renewed activity in both development and planning underway, the Chair and
the Co-Chairs of the Harvard Allston Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) have requested that
Secretary Sullivan re-convene the CAC. A copy of their letter is attached. CRWA hopes that
the BRA will coordinate closely with the MEPA office as it scopes the DPIR for Tata Hall.
Fig. 1 Concept sketch for Greenway connection from the residential neighborhood to the Charles River along a historic stream corridor overlaid with existing storm drain network underground
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We appreciates the opportunity to comment on this Project through the Article 80 review process
and look forward to working with the BRA and Harvard as the planning and design evolve.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Pallavi Kalia Mande
Urban Restoration Specialist
Encl.
cc: Will Donham, Harvard University
Edward M. Lambert Jr., Department of Conservation and Recreation
Harvard Allston Task Force
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