After decades of industrialization, pollution, and neglect, communities up and down the Hudson River are transforming their waterfronts into useable, ecologically sensitive spaces. This transformation also raises a host of questions: Should these waterfronts be turned into greenspace for all? How can a shoreline both be economically viable but also adaptive to rising tides? How might we envision the restoration of our waterfronts as part of a region-wide comprehensive plan?
Indeed, perhaps the biggest question is how we can design our waterfronts to be resilient, inclusive places that can resist the multitude effects of climate change.
The lower Hudson is a tidal estuary, and therefore vulnerable both to the effects of sea level rise and high water runoff events. Shorelines will become increasingly exposed to such volatility. Beyond rising waterlines, the climate crisis also raises sociocultural issues—who will get displaced? What do we do with vulnerable properties? How do we handle flood insurance? And how can we make our cities welcoming to climate refugees?
In this event, we will hear from a range of thinkers and practitioners who are facing the question of resilient waterfronts head on.
Libby Zemaitas, Climate Change Program coordinator at the NYS DEC Hudson River Estuary Program, will give an overview of some of the climate adaptive projects along the Hudson.
Russell Lange, former Executive Director of the Hudson River Maritime Museum, will talk about life along the shoreline in Kingston and some of the adaptive strategies they’ve implemented.
Professor Josh Cerra, principal investigator for the Climate-adaptive Design Program at Cornell University, will talk about CaD’s unique format of pairing student researchers and designers with waterfront communities.
We will then zero into the case study of Hudson, NY, where we will hear from Lyndsey Cooper, Climate Outreach Specialist at DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program, who will discuss some of the Phase II estuary work being done around Hudson’s waterfront.
The event will take place live at the FOCUS Lab. A live stream will be made available to those who register for the event. Light food and drink will be served.
TICKETS: $10 GA / $5 students. Scholarship opportunities are available.