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October 14, 2008, 02:58 PM ET
Lesley U. Lets Neighbors Design a Residence Hall -- and Avoids a Fight
There’s been plenty of strife in Boston over expanding colleges — just think of the controversy that has been raised since Boston College announced its plans for the archdiocese property.
But The Boston Globe reports that Lesley University has worked closely with its neighbors to design new dormitories — a process that avoided the bitter feuds that usually mark town-gown relationships. (In a 2005 article, The Chronicle described Lesley’s efforts to reach out to its neighbors.)
The Globe lays out the process: “Plans for a single building with a sprawling parking lot were scrapped, replaced by two buildings, one with commercial shops on the first floor. Its contemporary style, which neighbors felt was boxy and harsh, gave way to a layered facade more consistent with the surrounding architecture. The parking lot was cut in half and tucked between the buildings.
“In exchange, the university gained neighbors’ support for a larger project than initially proposed, giving Lesley coveted new dorm rooms for its growing student body. Because the new plans exceeded zoning regulations, neighbors took the unusual step of lobbying the Cambridge zoning board for a range of waivers. …
“‘We all compromised,’ said Fred Meyer, a neighbor who was closely involved in the design process. ‘We supported a big zoning variance, and Lesley gave us exactly the type of building we wanted.’”
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