In Boston, two recent reports, one on the impact of climate change, and the other on planning for future development, provoked a hard look at the wisdom of building in increasingly flood-prone areas.
The planning report, “Imagine Boston 2030,” identifies five priority growth areas in the metro area. Four of the five growth areas, including the booming Seaport District in South Boston, are extremely vulnerable to flooding according to the other report, “Climate Ready Boston.”
Stephen Gray, assistant professor of urban design at Harvard Graduate School of Design, and a cochairman for Boston’s 100 Resilient Cities Resilience Collaborative, points out the contradiction in an opinion column in the Boston Globe. He asks: “How and where we decide to grow will have immeasurable economic and social consequences, so why would we intentionally grow in parts of the city that we know to be extremely vulnerable to flooding?”
He points out that in the Seaport construction permits “continue to be approved so long as buildings have floodable first floors and utilities on the roof. By this measure, the city maintains that floodable buildings are a viable solution, even if the streets around them could eventually be ankle deep in mud and water depending on the tide.” Coastal cities around the world are faced with similar dilemmas concerning where best to encourage new development in the face of rising sea levels induced by climate change, and where best to invest in flood mitigation infrastructure.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Sep 26, 2019
Building support for climate action depends on linking it to health, economic benefits
USGBC report finds most people don’t think environmental problems significant enough to prioritize action.
Codes and Standards | Sep 20, 2019
OSHA has a new chief for its construction directorate
Former Army medical staffer Scott Ketcham has extensive OSHA experience.
Codes and Standards | Sep 20, 2019
American Wood Council updates free Connection Calculator
Tool includes cross-laminated timber connection provisions and post-frame ring shank nails.
Codes and Standards | Sep 19, 2019
Virtual reconnaissance of Bahamas finds some structures performed well during Dorian
Amid devastation, lives likely saved by resilient buildings.
Codes and Standards | Sep 19, 2019
Obama-era Waters of the U.S. rule revoked
New rule expected to define protected waterways more narrowly.
Codes and Standards | Sep 17, 2019
California will enact rent cap bill limiting rent increases to 5% plus inflation
Applies to apartments built at least 15 years ago.
Codes and Standards | Sep 17, 2019
Zero energy buildings can be constructed with no added upfront cost
ROI can be realized in as little as one year.
Codes and Standards | Sep 13, 2019
Researchers use U. of Arkansas buildings as testbed for CLT panels
Investigation could influence future use of the materials.
Codes and Standards | Sep 13, 2019
At least 30 U.S. cities have adopted stricter building energy codes since 2017
Some followed their states in implementing more robust standards.
Codes and Standards | Sep 12, 2019
Illinois law sets maximum retainage on private projects
The change is expected to give contractors bigger checks earlier in project timeline.