I don’t get it. What means does Harvard possess to unilaterally reestablish jurisdiction over the lands at Devens within Harvard’s boundaries? Lacking some arcane legal trump card, it’s wishful thinking. The jurisdiction issue will be decided among the stakeholders and in the Legislature. It is hard to imagine the majority of legislators passing any solution that doesn’t optimize the commonwealth’s interests. Harvard’s needs are a tiny part of the solution matrix.
Common sense suggests that as a developer, the state has an interest in completing the project, paying off the debt, and moving on. Time is money and uncertainty introduces risk. Anything that helps close the books is of potential value. Harvard might realize its greatest potential reward in helping the process forward. Of course, we would need consensus on what we want from the process and to understand if that is commensurate with the value added by our support. Unfortunately, delay and indecision take this potential value off the table.
Nobody is going to hand over a solution to all our problems, but we might be able to get land and rights for a water supply and sewer connection for Ayer Road where enterprising citizens are working to develop enough affordable rental housing to trump the 40B threat for almost a decade. That, to me, is little to ask and goes a long way toward solving one of our most pressing issues.
Chris Ashley
Woodside Road
