By Todd Feathers, News Staff
After continuous demands by members of the Northeastern Community Task Force for more detailed proposals during Institutional Master Plan (IMP) meetings, the Nov. 15 Task Force meeting was cancelled because the university said it was not yet ready to provide the specifics requested.
The Task Force meetings, which usually take place once a month, are a forum for members of the surrounding communities to review and discuss the university’s work on the IMP, which will guide Northeastern construction projects for the next 10 years. The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), which runs the meetings, cancelled the November meeting at the university’s request.
“We had hoped that Northeastern would have some more concrete proposals to make,” Gerald Autler, senior project manager for the BRA, said. “They told me they weren’t at a place where they could do that, and that’s just the way these things work sometimes.”
At the last meeting, on Oct. 16, many Task Force members expressed their disappointment that the university was unable to present exact details of their community engagement plans, which could include a microfinance fund for local businesses, low-cost housing in the surrounding neighborhoods and future construction projects.
But after learning that this month’s meeting was cancelled, several Task Force members said it gave them hope that the next time they met with the university they would be presented with in-depth proposals.
“The meeting being cancelled is a red herring,” Joyce Foster, a Task Force member, said. “As in life, what’s important is the reason behind it. And the reason for it, as I understand it, is to create more space and time for more serious proposals.”
John Tobin, vice president for City and Community Affairs at Northeastern, said the IMP team needed more time to review the many requests and suggestions they have received from community members during the meetings they have been holding in individual neighborhoods.
“I think the BRA just decided that we needed more time in order for us to flush out more of the community benefits we’re offering,” Tobin said. “We don’t want to present something that’s just willy-nilly. We want it to be meaningful.”
Jane Hartmann, another Task Force member, said she had mixed feelings of disappointment and optimism about the quality of future proposals.
“It’s very disappointing that [the meeting] didn’t happen. I’m sorry that they couldn’t get together and figure out some things right away,” Hartmann said. “We haven’t gotten to specifics yet. … I think shorter presentations and more details are what is needed. But I’m always hopeful. I think [Northeastern] can be specific, but whether they will I can’t really predict.”
The final IMP proposal is scheduled to be submitted to the BRA for approval sometime next year, although an update on the plans is due at the end of December.
Autler said he doesn’t believe cancelling the Nov. 15 meeting will affect the university’s ability to proceed on schedule.
“Cancellation of the meeting has no impact on the process because we only meet to discuss substance, and if there’s no substance, there’s no reason to meet,” Autler said.
