February 7, 2011

Gerald Autler
Senior Project Manager/Planner
Boston Redevelopment Authority
One City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201

Gerald,

Thank you for overseeing the review of Harvard's proposed Innovation Lab at 125 Western Ave. Without
a doubt, this project and the businesses that it might help launch have great potential for Harvard
students and faculty, the Greater Boston region, and our society in general. As members of the
Allston/Brighton community we would like to share the following comments:

Harvard Business School, the Innovation Lab, and their partners (the Small Business Administration,
Community Action Partners, etc) have a lot to offer. Considering the special relationship between
Harvard and Allston and our shared history and future, we note that Harvard's proposal offers no
targeted, dedicated assistance to Harvard's for-profit and non-profit neighbors in Allston.

We hope the BRA and Harvard agree that a greater focus on economic development and local
revitalization is appropriate for the 125 Western Ave / Innovation Lab project. We would like to focus
our comments on two relevant opportunities for this revitalization.

Allston/Brighton Access to Small-Business and Start-Up Consulting

1. Non-profit and for-profit businesses in Allston/Brighton should have guaranteed access to the
consulting services affiliated with the Innovation Lab
2. The Innovation Lab should have specific, measurable, results-oriented goals relating to businesses
and potential business owners in Allston/Brighton. The goals should be jointly developed by
Harvard, the BRA, and the Allston/Brighton community.
3. The Innovation Lab should report annually on its progress towards these goals and its impact on
the Allston/Brighton community.
4. The Innovation Lab Advisory Board should include Allston/Brighton representatives such as one
member from the Allston Board of Trade, one from Allston Village Main Streets, and one at-large
community member.

Placemaking and Transforming Western Ave

The 2005 North Allston Strategic Framework for Planning developed by Harvard, the BRA, and
Allston/Brighton residents calls for "public realm improvements that enhance livability" and the
"transformation of Western Avenue into a more pedestrian-friendly neighborhood Main Street with
streetscape and related improvements." Similarly, Harvard hired the Project for Public Spaces in 2006 to
identify placemaking opportunities along Western Ave. and noted the value of "creating great
destinations through activities and attractions."
The existing building at 125 Western Ave does impose certain constraints, but we believe it is
appropriate for Harvard to go far beyond what is currently proposed so that 125 Western Ave becomes
a strong step towards the Western Ave transformation that Harvard has promised. This is particularly
important because it is unclear when Harvard will complete any other development on Western Ave
that could be a 2nd step in Western Ave's transformation.

Perhaps the most feasible way to make progress towards this goal is for the Innovation Lab to
incorporate significant public art and public uses such as decorative seating, fencing, sculpture, water
fountains, increased retail space, and shelter for people waiting for the MBTA bus. A model for such
public art might be the MIT "Percent for Art" program (http://www.mit.edu/~lvac/percent/index.html)
that designates as much as $250,000 for public art at every major MIT renovation or building project.

Ideally, these suggestions will be incorporated into Harvard's proposal and an improved Western Ave
"main street" and prosperous Allston will prove beneficial for both Harvard's neighbors and the current
and future Harvard communities.

Sincerely,

The Members of the BRA Harvard Allston Task Force

cc: Mayor Thomas Menino, City Councilor Mark Ciommo, State Rep. Kevin Honan, State Rep. Michael
Moran, State Senator Sal DiDomenico, Katie Lapp, Bill Purcell, Harvard Business School Dean Nitin
Nohria