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Living with Water
Ruichao Li
Whereas the Emerald Necklace is a legacy from Boston’s past, the Innovation City is its future. However, today’s Boston is confronted with challenges caused by rising sea levels, extreme climate conditions, and reduced biodiversity. If the sea levels continue to rise at their current rate, most of Downtown Boston will be flooded in 100 years. A newly created channel, starting in Downtown Boston and extending all the way to Columbia Point, offers a rich riverside condition. Dense urban projects will be developed along the channel as a new innovation district that works with University of Massachusetts Boston. The Emerald Necklace will also be extended, as rain gardens and urban groves along Columbia Road help storm water management and promote microclimates. The underutilized Joe Moakley Park will be renovated and berms will help protect the waterfront, while a levee will act as a bicycle lane connecting Columbia Point with Pleasure Bay. A cable car system will operate along the shore, presenting opportunities for education and pleasure. Along the channel, the building strategies differ according to their flood risk. Artwork lines the riverfront park while skywalks connect new towers. A transportation terminal connects the subway and railway with ferries to other islands.
Site plan.
