Allston residents munched on Swiss Challah, Pretzel Baguettes, and fresh Swiss Cheese at Wednesday’s Allston Civic Association meeting, in stark contrast to the serious and often tense tones of previous meetings related to Harvard's expansion in that community.
Thomas and Helene Stohr, dressed in bright red uniforms, pitched Swiss Bakers—a 14,000-square-foot commercial bakery that will house its production site in Allston—to residents Wednesday evening. Afterwards, community members unanimously approved the bakery for use of a retail space that used to house a car dealership.
“I welcome them into the community. I think they have a good philosophy for building relationships, and I’m excited to see where they’ll go in the next ten years,” said Alana Olsen, executive director for Allston Village Main Streets, an urban revitalization non-profit.
Moving the bakery’s headquarters from Reading, Mass. to 168 Western Ave. is part of an effort by the University to bring new tenants to Western Ave. after many business leases expired and University properties were left vacant amid Harvard’s efforts to construct the Allston Science Complex. Harvard has said that it would work to transform Western Ave. into a thriving “main street” since construction on the Science Complex was indefinitely halted in Dec. 2009 due to financial constraints. But Allston residents have repeatedly said that they have been disappointed by that effort, fueling tension between the University and local residents.
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