Rising Waters Threaten Future of Boston’s Seaport District
Boston’s Seaport is a high-revenue hub with restaurants, housing, and offices. But it faces a rising flood threat that could undermine its economy and tax base. According to the Metropolitan…
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Boston's Seaport is a high-revenue hub with restaurants, housing, and offices. But it faces a rising flood threat that could undermine its economy and tax base.
According to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, “climate change is expected to vastly impact the Greater Boston region's environment, infrastructure, economy, and public health.” In fact, 99% of Seaport buildings built over the last 25 years are at risk of flooding by 2050, underscoring long-standing vulnerability.
National projections for the next 30 years estimate 10 to 14 inches of sea level rise on the East Coast and 14 to 18 inches on the Gulf Coast, with regional variability due to ice melt, land movement, and warming oceans, according to a U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit report.
"Nearly all of the Seaport area is vulnerable to flooding within the next quarter-century," noted a Clean Technica report. "About $7.6 billion in Seaport real estate sits at least partly within a 100-year flood plain and generated $129.5 million in taxes last year. A resulting lack of appeal that comes with flooding will chase away high-end tenants and reduce the tax base that currently funds city services beyond the Seaport footprint."
Boston, however, is taking steps to integrate coastal resilience into its design and development strategies. Clean Technica reported that Boston's Climate Ready Boston and Coastal Resilience Solutions outline plans for five coastal neighborhoods to reduce flood risk, boost ecosystems, and improve waterfront connectivity and recreation. These neighborhoods are Charlestown, Dorchester, Downtown/North End, East Boston, and South Boston.
The city's Office of Climate Resilience announced another measure in its climate resilience efforts. It has begun the process to design coastal resilience infrastructure and a waterfront park to protect the Mario Umana Academy in East Boston.
Chris Osgood, who leads Boston's office of climate resilience, told The Boston Globe his office has been working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to devise a plan to protect waterfront neighborhoods. Osgood hopes to have it ready for release by 2028.
