April 27, 2021 4:43 pm
Plans for an 810-bed Northeastern University dorm currently under city review are facing a new round of criticism, now from student and progressive activists who argue the project would further gentrification in a neighborhood steeped in rising rents and resident displacement.
University representatives, in documents filed with the BPDA, say the first five stories would be dedicated to classrooms, makerspace areas, and office space, while the rest of the building would contain dorms with amenities such as a fitness center, social lounge, “Academic Success Center,” and a bike and laundry room.
But student activists and other local advocates are calling on the university to halt its plans out of concerns over the impact new development could have on the neighborhood.