Beacon Hill Group Opposes Suffolk University Expansion Plans

2/21/08The Beacon Hill Civic Association (BHCA) board of directors once again voted unanimously Monday night against Suffolk University's expansion plan to the Hill - including the move of the New England School of Art Design to Somerset Street.

Suffolk University proposed to move the NESAD from its current location in the Back Bay to 20 Somerset St. in the Institutional Master Plan Notification Form . But the BHCA said nothing will happen until questions about the potential affects the institution's new location could have on the Beacon Hill community.

"Suffolk is trying to get this done as soon as possible. What I overheard at the meeting last night was that Suffolk is going to want to start building within the next six months, but the project will not proceed until our requirements have been met," said Susan Besser, the executive director at the BHCA.

Suffolk's report sees the move as a positive for the community, and it said that by moving the art school closer to the campus, it will most likely reduce pedestrians and traffic because the students will be coming directly from other academic buildings.

But the BHCA does not want to see a repeat of what some residents living near Northeastern University and Boston University faced: increased traffic, noise, and late-night rowdiness.

Some Beacon Hill residents are concerned the students who either will be living or walking through the neighborhood will not be respectful of the community.

"The large issue that I have been hearing about is that people don't want Beacon Hill to become like Georgetown. I think a lot of times what people forget is there a enormous family-oriented population in Beacon Hill," said Rebecca Winter, a young mother from the neighborhood.

Members of the BHCA and of the community said they are worried that even if the school does use the Somerset location for academic purposes and not dormitories or a student center, it will then want to purchase more buildings around the area and Beacon Hill could be overrun with college kids.

But Jessica Shumaker from the Boston Redevelopment Authority said there are positives of having an institution within a neighborhood or town and some times that it's what attracts residents.

"We need to find a way that is mutually beneficial for the institution, the city and specifically, the neighborhood that it affects.," she said "The institutions are a huge part of what makes up our city, a huge part of why people choose to live here they have huge economic impacts, so we need to make sure it's a win-win for both sides."

The BRA is holding a comment period until Feb. 28 where it will then review the letters and assemble a package with issues that need to be addressed back to the IMPNF board at Suffolk.

Although the IMPNF met unanimous opposition, the BHCA and Beacon Hill community seem to be at least somewhat optimistic about the affects that the new NESAD might have on The Hill.

"I think a lot of people would really enjoy a painting class, attend lectures or seminars. I know I would," said Besser.