Construction will resume on the Harvard Square Kiosk Plaza after years of delay, according to the Harvard Square Business Association. By Julian J. Giordano
By Eunice S. Chae, Crimson Staff Writer
3 days ago
Construction is slated to resume on the Harvard Square Kiosk Plaza with an eye toward completing the project by 2026, the Harvard Square Business Association announced on Thursday.
The renovation project has been in the works for nearly a decade, but the construction was delayed by a variety of factors, including the Covid-19 pandemic and supply chain issues, according to HSBA Executive Director Denise Jillson.
HSBA announced in an email that the project will go through eight phases before it is completed in 2026. The update comes after a years-long delay in the project, with the latest update on the city’s website being from mid-2022.
Jillson said in an interview that several recent incidents — such as the falling debris in Harvard Square’s MBTA station — also likely contributed to the project’s delay.
“It was just really clear that the MBTA wanted to make sure that everything was solid before construction began upstairs, overhead with the plaza,” Jillson said. “Because from the sidewalk below, there’s just — literally, in some cases — just a couple feet before you hit the top of the tunnel.”
The renovation will start with Phase 8, due to delays involving minor water pipe issues with the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority.
“Luckily, they’re moving forward with Phase 8, because all of the requirements around that particular phase are in a position for us to move forward,” Jillson said.
Jillson also discussed some of the planned changes, including improving accessibility of the overall space.
“I think probably the one thing that will please everybody is that the plaza will be ADA compliant, and right now it’s not,” she said. “So it’s very difficult for people with disabilities to maneuver through the plaza.”