At the end of the spring 2002 semester, the university was planning for the integration of housing into the UMass Boston community. According to the April 2002 issue of the University Reporter “the UMass Building Authority selected Sasaki Associates, Inc., to conduct a feasibility study for the construction of residential housing …” The results of the study were supposed to be handed in at the beginning of June.

In an earlier interview with Chancellor Gora she told The Mass Media that the administration “meet with Sasaki every two weeks to discuss the plans for development of residential halls and we hope to have a design from them June 1.”

Savin Hill Civic Association released May 15, 2002, Chancellor Jo Ann Gora announced the university’s plans to “conduct a community impact study, in addition to the originally planned feasibility study.” The community impact study was set to “begin once the feasibility study has been completed on June 1.” Gora’s statement also promised that the university “will not move forward until the community impact study is completed.”