Town & Gown: Things Go Better With Some Sugar

Lesley University, in Boston, recently made some news with its elaborate courting of its neighbors in the planning process for a new student housing project. Jack Stripling writes about that town and gown "partnership" in the context of its location in a difficult town for such things: Boston, MA:

As the Boston Globe recently reported, the partnership marked a departure from what have sometimes been contentious negotiations between residents and Boston College, Northeastern University and Harvard. Far from stifling the project, however, the neighborhood committee approach ended with Lesley getting support for a larger project that included two buildings, instead of the one building initially proposed.

“I think the lesson is if you’re a university planner is talk to your neighbors early and often,” Meyer said. “Don’t wait; get them involved in the process. Tell them what your needs are, and listen to what their needs are … and you may get more than you dreamed from the neighbors.”

In February, Lesley officials drew up a plan for a five-story building that would house about 80 students. But in order to accommodate the neighbors’ desire to shield a parking lot from public view and to include retail space on the first floor, the project grew to two buildings that will serve 98 students. That required changes in zoning, and neighbors actually petitioned city officials to make that happen.