Harvard Square Denizens Worry About Proposed Mall Development

Harvard Square in Cambridge is facing another round of developments, and residents are worries the changes could come at the expense of the character of the famous location.

1 minute read

January 2, 2017, 9:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell

"The endless skirmish over the soul of Harvard Square is heating up again," according to an article by Tim Logan.

A plan to redevelop three properties on the block where Brattle Street meets John F. Kennedy Street — including the Abbot Building, the flatiron-shaped home to The World’s Only Curious George Store — is roiling locals who worry the once-bohemian business district is marching ever closer to sterility.

New York-based investment firm Equity One is proposing the project, which would add a "glitzy indoor mall" to this famous corner of Cambridge.

Logan details the recent history of development controversies in Harvard Square, as Boston's economic recovery and soaring real estate prices have added extra incentives for developers to risk controversial proposals. Examples from real estate cycles in the 1990s are also recalled, in an article that surveys local business and property owners for their opinions abiut how Harvard Square has changed in the past, and how it should change in the future.

FULL STORY: A mall in Harvard Square? Not if some neighbors get their way

Thursday, December 22, 2016 in The Boston Globe

History / Preservation Urban Development Massachusetts Cambridge Harvard Square Redevelopment Controversies NIMBYs Equity One View More

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