Neighbors help Lesley design its new dorms

CAMBRIDGE - When it comes to building new dormitories, colleges and their neighbors rarely see eye to eye. So when Lesley University unveiled plans for a new residence hall on Massachusetts Avenue, the grumblings from Cambridge residents came as little surprise.

But instead of the typical town-gown tug-of-war, Lesley officials and an active group of neighbors struck an unusually collegial accord: Residents wouldn't critique the latest drafts at monthly meetings. They would help design the buildings themselves.

For the past several months, seven residents of the Agassiz neighborhood huddled with the project's architects over blueprints, hammering out details of the $13 million development, the college's first new construction in three decades.

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. The board agreed to some, but, in a reversal of the norm, demanded other changes against the neighbors' wishes.

"Usually they expect neighbors to complain," neighbor Carol Weinhaus said with a chuckle. "But we wanted more."

Weinhaus said the meetings were open and productive.

"Everything was on the table and no one pulled their punches," she said.

At a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony at the small property outside Harvard Square, university officials and neighbors hailed the partnership, a sharp contrast to the ongoing tussles over expansions at Boston College, Northeastern, and Harvard.

"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. That's what, here in Agassiz, we call a 'Win-Win.' "

Construction has begun, and the university hopes to open the five-story and three-story residence halls, which combined will hold 100 students, by next September. The project is part of a broad expansion campaign for the 1,300-student college that includes plans to pay $33 million for seven buildings at the Episcopal Divinity School on Brattle Street. The university also plans to move the Art Institute of Boston, now in Kenmore Square, to its Porter Square location.

Bill Doncaster, Lesley's director of community relations, said the university was surprised neighbors were not only willing to accept a larger project, but to spend hour after hour in meetings working to make it better.

"The level of time commitment was a surprise," Doncaster said. "It was substantial."

Simeon Bruner, the project's architect, who frequently designs college buildings, said the level of cooperation between Lesley and its neighbors was "quite odd," as was the level of neighborhood involvement.

"It was pretty different," he said. "They didn't come in and say 'We don't like it. Make it smaller.' They said, 'We don't like it. Make it bigger.' "

Bruner said neighborhood involvement caused some delays and disagreements, but the two sides resolved their differences quickly. Some residents praised his patience for putting up with their meddling.

"Can you imagine an architect having to deal with a bunch of neighbors?" Weinhaus quipped.

Bruner said the final project is superior to the original. At the same time, the university lost half their proposed parking, agreed to higher construction costs, and will probably lose money on the retail stores, Bruner said.

Lesley president Joseph B. Moore praised the neighbors' dedication and said he agreed with their resolve to have the buildings blend with the neighborhood.

"It wasn't negotiations, it was collaboration," he said. "We're not trying to build a self-enclosed campus. Mass. Ave. is our student center."

Neighbors said the extra time and energy were a small price to pay.

"My God, it's your neighborhood," said Meyer, a 70-year-old realtor who has lived in the area for decades. "If I can't do that for my neighborhood, what good am I?"