Tata Hall IMPNF-PNF Comments With Attachment

8/6/2019 Tata Hall IMPNF-PNF Comments With Attachment

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/tata-hall-impnf-pnf-comments-with-attachment 1/5

1

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



2

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



3

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





Documents

Tata Hall IMPNF-PNF Comments With Attachment