Coastal Resilience
Approximately 40 percent of the world’s population lives within 62 miles (100 km) of a coast, and many of the world’s major cities and urban areas lie along coasts. Coastal hazards, exacerbated by climate change, are increasingly affecting these coastal communities and their populations.
By bolstering the resilience of coastal assets and areas now, we can help protect coastal real estate, communities, and ecosystems in the face of the significant coastal risks that are expected in the coming years—and strengthen them in the process.
Explore ULI resources to discover how climate-resilient coastal development can enhance property values and mitigate risks for commercial real estate. Then, connect with experts and gain valuable insights through ULI programs and events.
Explore local insights from case studies and Advisory Services panel reports.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
The City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida asked ULI to convene an Advisory Services Panel to outline recommended criteria for a policy to equitably guide the selection of city-owned roadways for elevation and next steps the city can take towards implementing this policy.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
DRWC asked ULI to convene a three-and-a-half-day vASP to focus on the redevelopment and reinvestment of the study area along the southern reach of the Delaware River in Philadelphia and to assist the organization with strategies to ensure that the future riverfront is not only active and vibrant, but also resilient to the imminent impacts of sea-level rise on the waterfront properties.
Miami, Florida
In the summer of 2019, the Miami Downtown Development Authority and the City of Miami engaged ULI to conduct an Advisory Services Panel to provide recommendations on strengthening the Biscayne Bay waterfront as Downtown Miami’s first line of defense against rising seas.
Alys Beach Walton County, Florida
Designers DPZ CoDesign and developers EBSCO Industries combined coastal vernacular architecture influences from Bermuda and Antigua Guatemala with the protection of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety’s FORTIFIED Home program to create the first FORTIFIED for Safer Living® community in the world. Coupled with an extensive network of green infrastructure and preserved natural dunes and wetlands, Alys Beach is well prepared for coastal storms, and has the property values to prove the business case.
Clippership Wharf Boston, MA
Built to be resilient against future sea-level rise, Clippership Wharf was completed in March 2021 and is an innovative mixed-use development project on East Boston’s waterfront.
Bayshore Villas San Juan, Puerto Rico
As of spring 2020, 174 families in Old San Juan can view the Caribbean sunset from their windows in Bayshore Villas. McCormack Baron Salazar, through a steady partnership with both the local Department of Housing and local architects, saw the project through the billions of dollars in damages caused by Hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017, as well as the delays in insurance payments that followed. As Puerto Ricans face more turbulent weather, Bayshore Villas shows how disaster-ready design can also help cultivate community.
Empire Stores Brooklyn, New York
The seven-building, Civil War-era complex known as Empire Stores came to bid as a byproduct of a city-state effort to redevelop 1.3 miles of former industrial waterfront in Brooklyn into Brooklyn Bridge Park, an 85-acre world-class, recreational, environmental, and cultural destination for New York City residents and visitors alike.
Brock Environmental Center Virginia Beach, Virginia
This environmental center and office for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), a leading regional environmental organization, is operating at net-zero water, waste, and energy use. The building has extremely low monthly operating costs and has raised awareness of low-impact design, helping the organization achieve its mission of protection, advocacy, education, and restoration of the bay’s environmental health.
District Wharf Washington, District of Columbia
Washington, D.C.’s Southwest Waterfront is being revitalized for resilience by the District Wharf, one of the nation’s preeminent mixed-use projects. The Wharf’s design and construction address the impacts of climate change, which pose increasing threats Washington DC’s various waterfront neighborhoods.
Gain valuable insights and connect with experts at these upcoming ULI events:
Get involved at ULI and shape the future of resilient coastal communities
Exchange ideas with industry leaders and pioneer best practices by applying to join ULI Product Councils focused on sustainability and responsible investment, such as the Sustainable Development Council (SDC) and the Responsible Property Investment Council (RPIC).
Build connections and drive change. Join a network of ULI members dedicated to building coastal resilience in your region.
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ULI San Diego/Tijuana SURF Committee
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ULI SE Florida Resiliency Committee
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ULI Boston Resilience Committee
Ready to make a real difference in coastal communities? ULI’s Advisory Services Program (ASP) offers you the opportunity to:
GET THE LATEST INSIGHTS RELATED TO COASTAL RESILIENCE