New York City’s two community climate adaptation projects prevent flooding and the loss of critical services for residents, businesses, and key local resources, while encouraging community involvement.
The East Side Coastal Resiliency (ESCR) and Hunts Point Resiliency (HPR) projects utilize community participation in the planning for physical infrastructure and public improvements which enhance the resilience of two critical communities along New York City’s coastline. The ESCR project will create a flood-protection system and improve open spaces along Manhattan’s East River waterfront, consisting of vegetated berms and deployable flood barriers. The HPR project will support the resilience of the South Bronx neighborhood, including the Food Distribution Center, a crucial node in the region’s food supply chain, by studying the most effective coastal protection and resilient energy strategies for the area. In all, the projects will protect more than 350,000 New Yorkers, 10,000 buildings, and more than 1,200 hectares of land.
Both projects rely heavily on community boards, civic groups, tenant associations, and business owners in designing the adaptation strategies for these neighborhoods. Other participatory planning methods, such as hands-on public workshops, stakeholder-led working groups, community task forces, and large public meetings help the larger community engage with these plans to ensure that outcomes reflect the needs and desires of those affected.
3.5 km of flood-protection systems will be created along the East River
The challenge
New York’s vulnerability to climate change was made clear after Hurricane Sandy ripped through the city, costing it more than $19 billion in damages. These projects will protect the city’s housing, infrastructure, and other assets from coastal flooding, wind, extreme heat events, extreme precipitation events and other energy system outtages, while also enhancing the environmental, social, and economic conditions of each neighborhood.
Co-benefits
Economic Safeguarding the Hunts Point Food Distribution Center alone will protect 8,400 jobs and produce, meat, and fish markets that generate over $4 billion in annual revenue.
Environmental Improved storm water management and drainage will result in improved water quality by reducing sewage entering waterways during coastal surge events.
Health Disruption to the operation of Hunts Point Food Distribution Center could put at risk the food supply for 22 million people in the region.
Social In Hunts Point, resilience interventions will bring community-building opportunities to a well-organized residential, civic, and business community in one of the country’s poorest congressional districts.
About New York City
The City of New York, often called New York City or simply New York, is the most populous city in the United States. With an estimated 2016 population of 8,537,673 distributed over a land area of about 302.6 square miles (784 km2), New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the United States. Many districts and landmarks in New York City have become well known, and the city received a record 61 million tourists in 2016, hosting three of the world’s ten most visited tourist attractions in 2013.
