#  Zone 3 Allston Placemaking Program Wins 'Congress for New Urbanism Merit Award' 

 





May 15, 2025

 

 

We are pleased to share the news that Harvard's [Zone 3 placemaking program](https://www.zone3westernave.com/) in Allston has been selected for a [Merit Award from the Congress for New Urbanism](https://www.cnu.org/what-we-do/charter-awards) (CNU)! Out of many placemaking projects from across the country, Zone 3's program was one of four recipients to be awarded and recognized this year for creating "places people love." The award will be presented at the annual CNU conference in Providence this June.

**Keep reading to learn more about the CNU award and Zone 3 – check out the short video at the end!**



 

 

 

##  What are the Congress for New Urbanism Charter Awards? 

The CNU Charter Awards are considered the gold standard for urban design and placemaking, honoring projects that improve lives and embody the values of the New Urbanism movement—from the region, to the neighborhood, down to individual streets and buildings. Since 2001, these awards have recognized outstanding projects that shape communities for the better.

This recognition highlights Harvard's collective effort to foster Allston’s creative community by transforming shared spaces and supporting artists, entrepreneurs, and neighbors. Zone 3’s program will also be featured in [The Public Square](https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2025/05/21/catalyzing-neighborhood-change-through-art-public-space-and-activity), CNU’s quarterly journal. Our **HUHRE Development Team, Ben Weissbourd** and **Rebecca Cheney** are named in the article alongside our Zone 3 partners in HUPAD, Isenberg, and Graffito.



 

 



 [ Catalyzing neighborhood change through art, public space, and activity arrow\_circle\_right ](https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2025/05/21/catalyzing-neighborhood-change-through-art-public-space-and-activity) 

 

 

 

 

##  What is Zone 3? 

 



Zone 3 fosters and enhances the local creative ecosystem -  
one that champions artists, entrepreneurs, and neighbors  
alike by transforming shared spaces into platforms for  
expression, innovation, and community-building in our  
Allston neighborhoods. If you've navigated through  
Allston recently, you'll recognize many of [Zone 3's](https://www.zone3westernave.com/current/)  
[programs and art installations](https://www.zone3westernave.com/current/) throughout the  
neighborhood.



 

 

##  HUHRE & Zone 3 

 



[ A short video](https://next.frame.io/share/dbce665a-a735-4650-a356-4e206fed79d4/) featuring our very own **Ben Weissbourd**  
**(HUHRE) and Marika Reuling (HUPAD)** has been created  
to be shown at the awards ceremony, highlighting the  
impactful work happening in our neighborhoods through  
the Zone 3 program. It gives an excellent overview of how  
Zone 3 has directly contributed to the Allston  
neighborhood and fostered critical connections between  
Harvard affiliates, tenants, residents, and Allston  
community members.



 

 

 

 

 



 

 

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