Storm-driven flood waters inundate Boston’s Long Wharf in December 2022. Photo by James Sanna | Banker & Tradesman Staff
Consultants hired by the Boston Planning & Development Agency say construction of a flood barrier to protect downtown Boston from sea level rise faces major hurdles in designing an effective defense while avoiding structural damage to Long Wharf and the MBTA Blue Line tunnel.
That’s put them somewhat at odds with plans put forward by downtown landowners who have advocated for an $877 million flood barrier in a separate study.
But either way, efforts are moving forward to protect this often-flooded part of the city, and Boston officials and the Army Corps of Engineers are partnering on a coastal storm risk management study that would enable the city to apply for federal funding if and when a flood protection plan is chosen.
What else is on tap today?
- Housing Games: In a case that shows the lengths communities will go to stop a housing project from getting built, Methuen officials are trying to leverage the state’s use of a Days Inn motel as an emergency shelter for homeless families to block a developer’s proposed 40B project.
- C-Suite Promotions: BayCoast Bank recently promoted three leaders in top-level positions: its chief financial officer, chief information officer and chief human resources and talent officer.
- Rate-Cut Warnings: Several Federal Reserve policymakers warned Thursday against cutting U.S. interest rates too soon or by too much in the wake of recent data showing inflation stayed unexpectedly high in January.
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Who Gave Back?
Newton-based The Village Bank gave $2,500 to the Waltham Boys and Girls Club, selected by the winner of a giveaway for Waltham residents. See who else gave back.
Hey, Big Spender…
Two next-door, waterfront neighbors in Manchester-by-the-Sea claimed spots in this week’s Gossip Report.
What can I look forward to?
Here are just a few of the things to look forward to in Sunday’s newsletter. Not a B&T subscriber? Change that here.
- What can AI do for commercial development? A lot, experts say, but some very real limits exist.
- Developers are finally cracking the code on making co-living work, but growth of this new type of multifamily living waits on several factors.
- Is the current crop of office towers underway in Boston going to be the last for a generation? Given some experts’ predictions, that might be the case.
