New research documents how the weight of buildings causes the ground to sink underneath developments in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Kurtis Alexander reports: "The entire Bay Area is plunging downward under the weight of its own sprawl. And that’s a concern as sea levels rise and cities try to figure out how they’ll stay above water in the coming decades."
New research by Tom Parsons, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey, has shed light on the subsidence caused by development in the San Francisco Bay Area. Parsons published findings in a recent issue of the journal AGU Advances.
The most famous example of subsidence in San Francisco is Millennium Tower. The tony but beleaguered residential tower has sunk 16 inches in the decade since its construction and is tilting to the side. Although this one example is infamous, the issue hasn't been studied extensively in the aggregate, according to Alexander.
The study is likely to have implications in other cities, according to Alexander, especially when considering the collision course of sinking coastal cities with rising coastlines. "Other areas seeing significant development are also likely to have sinking buildings while similarly having to contend with sea level rise, the paper says." The Bay Area is further complicated by seismic activity, which can raise ground levels, pushing up against the weight of buildings and mitigating some of the subsidence effect.
FULL STORY: Buildings like S.F.'s Millennium Tower are causing the Bay Area to sink under their weight

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Washington Legislature Passes Rent Increase Cap
A bill that caps rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation is headed to the governor’s desk.

From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience
Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.

New Mexico Aging Department Commits to Helping Seniors Age ‘In Place’ and ‘Autonomously’ in New Draft Plan
As New Mexico’s population of seniors continues to grow, the state’s aging department is proposing expanded initiatives to help seniors maintain their autonomy while also supporting family caregivers.
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