Boston Property Owners Bolstered Waterfront Flood Defenses
Officials and private owners have invested in new resiliency measures to protect the city from rising sea levels.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Safety
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Should private property owners be required to fund resiliency measures to protect local areas from flooding?
Boston officials have increased efforts to encourage private property owners to invest in flood resiliency measures, following a wave of new protection projects. Mayor Michelle Wu recently marked the completion of a $20 million effort at Harbor Towers to safeguard the waterfront.
Why it matters
With more than 40% of Boston residents living in coastal flood risk areas, these private-sector investments are intended to mitigate damage from extreme weather. Such measures aim to prevent the significant flooding seen during the 2018 winter storms.
A U.S. Army Corps of Engineers draft plan proposes $10 billion in infrastructure to avoid $41 billion in future damage. The city hopes to secure federal funding for up to 65% of project costs.
The players
Michelle Wu
She is the Mayor of Boston and has been active in promoting climate adaptation and infrastructure resiliency throughout the city.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
This federal agency is responsible for overseeing major public infrastructure projects, including the proposed coastal protection plan.
Harbor Towers
This residential complex represents a major test case for private property investment in flood protection.
Boston Children's Museum
This institution is a significant cultural landmark that has initiated its own extensive resiliency plan to protect its facility.
The details
The Harbor Towers project, which took 18 months to complete, utilized permanent glass flood barriers and deployable stop logs designed by Weston & Sampson Engineers. Additionally, the Boston Children's Museum has raised over $15 million for its own multi-phase waterproofing plan that began this year.
Timeline
Between 2017 and 2022, the city completed Coastal Resilience Plans for five neighborhoods.
Severe winter storms in 2018 caused major flooding across the waterfront.
The city launched its Deployables Day program in 2024.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a draft coastal protection plan in July 2026.
The Boston Children's Museum began exterior waterproofing in August 2026.
Seasonal Patterns
The city's private-sector resiliency push follows the scale of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers draft plan for coastal protection, which provides a roadmap for multibillion-dollar infrastructure needs. This effort by private property owners to secure their assets directly complements the large-scale strategy outlined in the draft plan.
Residents living in coastal flood zones should verify if their property is covered by the city's ongoing resiliency planning programs. Homeowners and local businesses are encouraged to investigate if their buildings qualify for protective infrastructure enhancements.
The takeaway
Private investment in flood barriers serves as a critical stopgap as the city works to secure long-term federal funding for larger infrastructure projects. Owners are encouraged to prioritize deployable barrier systems to mitigate damage from sudden, high-intensity storm events.
Further reading
Learn more about local Safety initiatives across the city.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bisnow.
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Should private property owners be required to fund resiliency measures to protect local areas from flooding?
