HYBRID ALTERNATIVE: BALANCE RESILIENCE AND REDEVELOPMENT DESCRIPTION

 The goal of the hybrid approach is to transform the waterfront area with programmed public space as a redevelopment engine to attract redevelopment on parcels with substantially less risk while maintaining existing commercial space on less flood prone areas on Merchant’s Way.

 Voluntary buy-out of red buildings in the most flood prone area on Merchant’s Way to convert to public green space or redevelop near the intersection of Center Street.

 Create an elevated feature along the MBTA Right of Way, such as a mounded park, a terraced hardscaped feature, or planters.

 Dry floodproof “green” and “yellow” buildings as a mid-term resiliency strategy.

 Provide a gateway treatment delineation/raised surface, such as a wide brick crosswalk, to provide pedestrian connectivity between Besse Park and the transformed Merchant’s Way green space.

 After implementation of this alternative consider a long-term adaptation to elevate Main Street in conjunction with future investment at the bridge. Low points on Main Street are vulnerable to flooding under the current and proposed configuration and elevating Main Street would make the road and hospital emergency access more resilient to flooding.