Resilient Strategies for New Developments
Together with the Urban Land Institute, AG&T recently hosted a global resiliency webinar. The on-line event included three experts from around the world to discuss how we can best protect our built environments from sea level rise, flooding, and erosion.
The below has been summarized from Stefan Al, PhD, RA, LEEDone of the webinar’s speakers and author of a new book Adapting Cities to Sea Level Rise: Green and Gray Strategies.
Special thanks to Patricia Nader for assistance with this article.
In the realm of real estate development, understanding and incorporating innovative flood management strategies is pivotal for sustainable and resilient projects. One prominent approach is hard protection, dominating the U.S. landscape. This method, marked by structures like seawalls and floodwalls, not only establishes a clear demarcation between land and water but also offers multifunctional design possibilities. Vancouver’s Seawall serves as an exemplary case study, showcasing how such structures can seamlessly integrate into public spaces, providing recreational amenities and enhancing the overall urban experience.
City of Vancouver Parks Department
Contrastingly, soft protection introduces nature-based systems into flood defense. Living shorelines, dunes, and floating islands not only contribute to flood resilience but also foster biodiversity. Unlike their hard counterparts, soft solutions embrace the fluid transition between wet and dry, creating diverse habitats that benefit local ecosystems. The flexibility and adaptability of soft protection make it an attractive choice, often complementing hard solutions in hybrid approaches that offer a balanced and sustainable flood management strategy.
Image from Texas General Land Office
A crucial aspect in flood-resilient real estate development is water storage. Upland water storage solutions play a significant role in controlling water movement, particularly in areas burdened by impervious surfaces like asphalt. These solutions are indispensable additions to flood protection schemes, addressing the compounding issue of excessive water runoff. Real estate developers can leverage innovative water storage designs to not only enhance flood resilience but also contribute positively to the surrounding environment.
Credit Trinomics
As coastal areas face increasing vulnerabilities, the concept of retreat emerges as a pragmatic consideration in real estate development. Moving away from coastlines and implementing measures like raised grounds, floodproofing, and “de-poldering” ensures long-term sustainability. Exploring alternative living arrangements on water becomes a forward-thinking approach, aligning real estate development with the imperative need for climate-resilient solutions.
Floating Homes Amsterdam (GRIST)
In conclusion, integrating flood management strategies into real estate development is more than a necessity; it’s a commitment to building sustainable, resilient communities. Developers embracing a combination of hard and soft protection, efficient water storage, and forward-looking retreat options contribute not only to the safety of their projects but also to the overall well-being of the environment and its inhabitants. As the real estate landscape evolves, so must our approach to flood resilience, ensuring a harmonious coexistence with nature.
Stefan Al, PhD, RA, LEED, Isabel de Caires,Julie Medley, Edgar Westerhof, Adam Greenfader, Amanda Staerker, Sydney Ramirez, AICP,Marianne Eppig, Lindsay Brugger, AIA, CPHC,Stephanie Wade,Joaquin A. Mojica, P.E.
Originally published on LinkedIn on January 24, 2024.
Adam Greenfader is Chairman of AG&T, a Caribbean real estate capital advisory firm with more than three decades of experience structuring and executing real estate development projects across the Caribbean and Latin America, with over two billion USD in aggregate value.