Boston Mayor Martin Walsh recently unveiled a flood protection plan that keys on new parks and upgrades of existing ones.
City leaders were alarmed when storms last winter put parts of the downtown area and the Seaport district underwater for a more than a day. Recent sea level rise forecasts have added urgency to the issue.
The plan would add 67 acres of public open space in areas that could act as flood buffers, and some existing parks would be renovated to boost their elevation. Some low-lying streets would also be raised, and sea walls would be added along privately owned sections of the Harborwalk, a coastal pedestrian path.
Business leaders expressed support for the plan, but some experts questioned how the money would be raised for the ambitious proposal. Boston already urges developers to plan for sea level rise in new waterfront buildings, but does not mandate that they do so. In the future, those provisions might become requirements, and landowners might have to help pay for the extensive work proposed by the mayor.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Feb 26, 2020
American Concrete Institute releases 2020 codes, specifications, and practices
ACI Collection features guidance on structural concrete construction and rehabilitation.
Codes and Standards | Feb 25, 2020
New ISO standard for optimizing building use and reusing and recycling components released
Aim is to realize full potential value of a building throughout its life cycle.
Codes and Standards | Feb 21, 2020
Architects push back on proposed uniform design mandate for federal architecture
AIA speaks out against measure.
Codes and Standards | Feb 20, 2020
City-owned buildings to go carbon-free in Los Angeles
Mayor commits to goal for new and extensively renovated structures.
Codes and Standards | Feb 19, 2020
Public is willing to volunteer to maintain green infrastructure
Perceived benefits make residents willing to help public works departments.
Codes and Standards | Feb 18, 2020
Recent Dept. of Energy grants emphasize grid-interactive building technology
National labs, universities, businesses selected for total of $74 million in funding.
Codes and Standards | Feb 14, 2020
At least 13 states create incentives for utilities to use demand response programs
Practice optimizes power grid, incorporates more renewable power.
Codes and Standards | Feb 13, 2020
Living Future Institute’s JUST program helps measure progress on sustainability, social justice
Functions as a transparency platform for organizations to disclose their operations.
Codes and Standards | Feb 12, 2020
Commercial Building Energy Saver Wins R&D 100 Award
Software toolkit enables access to deep energy retrofit and zero-net energy strategies.
Codes and Standards | Feb 11, 2020
Fenestration Rating Council launches faster energy performance testing system
New windows, doors, and skylights will get to market faster.