Second annual Summer Arts Fest begins tomorrow
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BEACHCOMBER VASHON-MAURY ISLAND
SOUND PUBLISHING, INC.
VOL. 64, NO. 27
VASHONBEACHCOMBER.COM
75 CENTS
THURSDAY, JULY 4, 2019
Sea level damage will hit state the hardest A report by the Center for Climate Integrity shows the multibillion-dollar cost of battling back the sea By Aaron Kunkler akunkler@soundpublishing.com
A report released Thursday by the Center for Climate Integrity shows that of all West Coast states, Washington is poised to bear the highest financial burden as it tries to shelter communities from a rising sea driven by climate change. The report found that at a minimum, the U.S. faces more than $400 billion in costs over the next 20 years to defend coastal communities from sea level rise. The work will require more than 50,000 miles of coastal barriers in 22 states, representing at least 10 percent of all climate change adaptation costs to municipalities. However, this is a lowball estimate, according to the report, and would provide protection only for projected sea levels and annual storms. Local planners will likely account for larger storms that have a .01 percent chance of striking any given year, known as 100-year storm events. This means that already costly price estimate will likely be far higher than $400 billion across the country. But on the West Coast, Washington is the most vulnerable, said Richard Wiles, director of the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) in an email. The report said it would cost around $24 billion to protect the state’s shorelines. “On the West Coast, Washington state stands out as the most costly state, more expensive than California, made See SEA, Page 18
A rendering of the redesigned Jardins du Trocadéro with the Eiffel Tower looming in the background.
GUSTAFSON PORTER + BOWMAN PHOTO
Island landscape architect will remake heart of Paris
By Paul Rowley prowley@vashonbeachcomber.com
I
slander and landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson is slated to transform the grounds surrounding the Eiffel Tower, culminating with the opening ceremonies of the 2024 summer Olympic games. She will speak at Vashon Center for the Arts on Sunday, July 21 at 4 p.m. about revitalizing 130 heavily trafficked acres in the heart of Paris, creating a pedestrian-only park that links monuments and landmarks with a new greenbelt distinguished by lawns, courtyards, a grass amphitheater and cherry blossom trees. With her office based in London, Gustafson headed the proposal that was later selected by the city of Paris in May, beating out 42 international applicants. The design reorganizes
the traffic pattern around the Trocadéro and adds more fountains in the nearby garden. It removes all cars from the Pont D’Iéna Bridge crossing the Seine River and replaces the road with a green promenade accessible only to emergency vehicles. In a press release, Mayor Anne Hidalgo expressed her enthusiasm about the possibilities. “I want the Eiffel Tower and its surroundings to become a real place for walking and relaxing, especially on weekends for families, and Paris must be a city where you can let go of your child’s hand.” Two new squares on either side of the bridge will welcome visitors and stage events while providing for greater access to the tower, accentuated by new plant life and expanded areas designated for luggage. New restaurants and shops will open
Lecture Tickets are $20 General, $18 Members and $15 for Students/Seniors. They are available for purchase online at bit.ly/2YpwtTx. in the vicinity as access to the Ecole Militaire metro station will be improved, in addition to lighting, security and storm water management throughout the area. The total cost of the overhaul is € 72 million, financed entirely by revenue generated from ticket sales made by the Eiffel Tower Operating Company. The focus of the project is in keeping with the objectives of the 2016 Paris Climate Agreement. In a phone conversation, Gustafson said the design calls for planting more
native vegetation and reduces the number of impermeable surfaces, helping to keep the temperature cooler. She added that it also fits squarely into a plan led by the mayor to expunge motor vehicles from the city, prioritizing the creation of bike lanes and pedestrian spaces while easing congestion. Ultimately, she said, that will make for a better Paris. “I just find it really fascinating how a big city actually functions and what it takes to make 15 million people get along,” she said. Gustafson is no stranger to Paris — or to complex jobs with considerable pressures. She was a member of the landscape design team that took on the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., integrating See PARIS, Page 19