"Glorified sandbags," costing $3 million, will be installed in New York City.
"Nearly seven years after Superstorm Sandy decimated the city, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration has finally come up with a temporary plan to protect part of lower Manhattan — glorified sandbags," CBS New York reports.
The report includes locals expressing their doubts that the sandbags will make a difference in the event of another storm like Superstorm Sandy. Local officials also admit that the sandbags aren't pretty. Robert Freudeberg of the Regional Plan Association, is quoted in the article saying function is more important than form when it comes to coastal resilience.
"The sandbags will be installed from the Brooklyn Bridge to Wall Street. It’s about a mile and there will be 18 gaps, so pedestrians can get to the Esplanade," according to the report.
On a related note: this week is "Hurricane Preparedness Week," according to the National Weather Service.
FULL STORY: City’s First Line Of Defense Against A Hurricane? Mayor’s Office To Roll Out Sandbags In Lower Manhattan
Army Corps Proposes Sea Barriers to Protect New York from Rising Seas
A massive infrastructure project is on the table in New York, after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a new feasibility study.
New York's Post-Sandy Resilience Plans Have Lost Momentum
New York, like every other city in the United States, isn't more prepared for a major storm event than it was on October 29, 2012.
New Staten Island Zoning Rules Would Prohibit Most Development in Flood-Prone Areas
An article in Crain's Business New York calls the new zoning rules proposed for neighborhoods in Staten Island a "back to nature" scheme.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
Montreal’s Gorilla Park Repurposes Defunct Railway Track
The park is part of a global movement to build public spaces that connect neighbors and work with local elements to serve as key parts of a city’s green infrastructure.
Safe Parking Programs Help People Access Housing
The safety and stability offered by Safe Parking sites have helped 40 percent of unhoused San Diego residents who accessed these programs get into permanent housing.
Study: Single-Staircase Buildings Pose No Additional Risks
Zoning codes have long prohibited single-stair residential buildings due to safety concerns, but changing that could lower the cost of construction and allow for more flexible housing designs.
Forest Service Rescinds Tree Planting Grants
The $75 million program fell victim to the federal government’s purge of ‘DEI’-related projects.
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Planning for Universal Design
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Economic & Planning Systems, Inc.
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research