on Aug 14, 2025

Queens 2100: Tackling Flood Risks Before They Redefine Our Neighborhoods

Queens 2100 confronts a hard truth: flooding in coastal communities isn’t a distant threat—it’s already reshaping how we live, invest, and plan. HR&A Advisors Principal Jonathan Haragold joined a study led by Bill Kenworthey from HOK, which moves beyond the question of if flooding will disrupt life in low-lying neighborhoods—and instead asks when, how much, and what we can do now.

 

Nearly 40% of Americans live in coastal counties, and this plan provides a scalable, neighborhood-level framework to help low-lying areas prepare for climate impacts. From buyouts and leasebacks to targeted rezoning and disclosure laws, Queens 2100 lays out practical tools that any neighborhood can use to shift growth away from flood risks and safeguard local residents and businesses.

 

Read the full article to explore the strategies and tools shaping this neighborhood-focused approach to climate adaptation here.