BY VIVIEN LI

SPECIAL TO BANKER & TRADESMAN

L
ater this year, following public com-
ments and review by a steering com-
mittee of business, government and
community leaders, the city of Boston will
issue its 2014 Climate Change Action Plan
Update, Bostons blueprint for reducing
greenhouse gas emis-
sions, which contrib-
ute to global warm-
ing, while ensuring
preparedness for the
unavoidable impacts
of climate change and
potential sea level
rise.
As reported in
Banker & Tradesman,
since Superstorm Sandy in 2012, efforts
have been underway to design for future
flooding scenarios and continue Bostons
economic growth in the face of climate
change. Proactive developers are elevating
building foundations and entrances, mov-
ing mechanicals from basements to higher
levels, and flood-proofing buildings.
Next year, the city of Boston, The Bos-
ton Harbor Association and the Boston
Society of Architects are hosting an inter-
national design competition to foster cre-
ative design ideas for at-risk waterfront
sites. The competition will solicit planning
and design solutions that prepare three
sites for current coastal flooding and fu-
ture sea level rise.
Since its 2011 Climate Action Plan
Update, the city of Boston has made
considerable progress in assessing the
vulnerabilities of its own facilities and in-
frastructure. Moving forward, the 2014 Cli-
mate Change Action Plan should empha-
size the following:
Facilitate A Regional Approach To
Climate Action
Gov. Deval Patrick and state environ-
mental officials have made $50 million
available to municipalities for climate ac-
tion, including support for Bostons design
competition. Because planning for road-
ways, mass transit and water quality spans
numerous municipalities, a strong regional
approach is needed. Massport, Massachu-
setts Department of Transportation, Mas-
sachusetts Water Resources Authority and
Boston Water and Sewer Commission are
among the entities already assessing their
vulnerabilities and planning accordingly.
Building on these efforts, the city of Bos-
ton should work with the new governor
and the Legislature to ensure ongoing, re-
gional climate change planning and capital
funding of regional infrastructure, includ-
ing mass transit, roadways, water supply
and water quality, and energy. This should
include providing the city of Boston an ap-
pointment on the MBTA Board, similar to
the regional governance structure of the
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.
Following release of the 2014 update,
Mayor Martin Walsh, city officials and oth-
ers plan to host a regional climate change
preparedness summit, which we strongly
endorse. The Metropolitan Area Planning
Council, Greater Bostons regional plan-
ning agency, has been examining ways for
municipalities to work together, and is a
logical entity to continue to foster regional
planning and information sharing.
Continue Efforts To Slow
Sea Level Rise
As Boston and other cities look to fur-
ther reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ad-
ditional efforts should be undertaken to
make development projects less dependent
on automobiles and truly transit-oriented.
In recent years, developers and residents,
particularly younger workers and empty-
nesters returning to the city, have em-
braced newer transportation options: use
of car-sharing options like Zipcar and bike-
sharing programs such as Hubway continue
to grow, while ridership on the MBTAs
new late-night weekend service has ex-
ceeded expectations. Forward-thinking de-
velopers like Related Beal and Berkeley In-
vestments are no longer building parking in
their new projects, but rather emphasizing
their proximity to transit hubs North and
South stations, respectively, and to water
transportation.
Re-Think Waterfront Open Space
State regulations allow waterfront de-
velopers to meet 50 percent open space
requirements by including all non-lot cov-
erage areas, including sidewalks, streets
and roadways, besides traditional green
open spaces. The 2014 plan should promote
greater permeability of all paved surfaces,
particularly those considered open space,
to help manage flood conditions. The citys
Open Space Plan is currently being updated
as part of the eligibility process for state
funding, and should reinforce the need for
greater permeability of paved surfaces and
increased tree canopy coverage to help
lower temperatures in Bostons neighbor-
hoods.
The Boston Harbor Association and Sa-
saki Associates newly-released report,
Designing with Water: Creative Examples
from Around the Globe, provides case
studies of flood-adaptive development
strategies, including examples of success-
ful green infrastructure in an urban envi-
ronment. These and similar examples can
Reprinted with permission of Banker & Tradesman.
This document may constitute advertising under the rules of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts.
Reprinted from the issue of August 11th, 2014
T H E R E A L E S T A T E , B A N K I N G A N D C O M M E R C I A L W E E K L Y F O R M A S S A C H U S E T T S
A PUBLICATION OF THE WARREN GROUP
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Continued on Next Page
WATERFRONT OBSERVER
Climate Change Action Plan Under Review
Focuses Should Include Regional Planning, A Fresh Look At Open Space
VIVIEN LI
B A N K E R & T R A D E S M A N
2 AUGUS T 1 1 , 2 0 1 4
Reprinted with permission of Banker & Tradesman.
This document may constitute advertising under the rules of the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts.
help decrease potential flooding while mak-
ing open spaces more attractive and usable.
Enhance Citizen Involvement
In May, Walsh kicked off the first-ever
Greenovate Boston Community Summit,
a day-long event empowering Boston resi-
dents to help address climate change. Hun-
dreds of citizens, including innovators and
community leaders, offered thoughtful, new
ideas for how Boston neighborhoods can
meet climate challenges. A similar annual
community summit, hosted in a different
neighborhood each year, will help to ensure
an informed and engaged citizenry.
Boston has been a leader in climate ac-
tion, and with continued involvement from
property owners, businesses and residents,
is well on its way to being the greenest, most
climate-prepared city in the country. n
Vivien Li is president of The Boston Harbor
Association, www.tbha.org. She may be
reached at vli@tbha.org.