Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency (SIRR)BROOKLYN, NY

In the wake of Superstorm Sandy, BBB has developed integrated, multi-disciplinary, and site-specific resiliency measures across eight neighborhoods in Southern Brooklyn impacted by the storm.

Working for the Special Initiative for Rebuilding and Resiliency (SIRR) in the New York City Mayor’s Office, BBB developed a plan that provides both localized and area-wide strategies for protecting homes, businesses, and public infrastructure against the risks of climate change. The recommendations focus on both near-term response to Superstorm Sandy, and long-term impacts of future storms.

In a highly coordinated effort involving direct engagement with community members, BBB’s plan for Southern Brooklyn examines empirical data and projections for sea level rise to identify vulnerable areas and develop specific adaptation strategies. Proposals include a series of interconnected interventions to secure the coastline along the perimeter of Southern Brooklyn while integrating existing natural and urban landscape. Among these is a proposal to knit together the neighborhoods north and south of Coney Island Creek with a network of open spaces that deliver both storm resiliency and public access to the waterfront. As part of a team of designers and engineers, BBB continued to refine the Coney Island Creek proposal in order to align the resiliency measures with community benefits and the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Jamaica Bay Reformulation Study.

Client New York City Mayor’s OfficeSize 6 square milesCompletion Date 2013 Construction Cost N/A