Blog Comments
The New York Times
Best May Not Be Brightest — Should Be.
Michael Kimmelman's New York Times article The Best Architecture in New York of 2016 speaks to 2016 architectural works without mentioning how each building will help get us to the Mayor's stated greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal from buildings of 30 percent by 2025.Comment: The Sallan Foundation, New York City, December 16, 2016
Won't take issue with any of your design judgements, but as one of our most admired architecture critics, regret that you didn't use this 2016 review as an occasion to inform readers whether the new buildings you cite have been constructed to meet the best climate friendly, energy efficiency standards and what the waterfront developments you list have done to ensure their storm/flood resiliency. Otherwise their useful lifespans are likely to be short in a coastal city like NY.
Orrin Pilkey pens NC coastal policies must adjust to sea-level rise Op-Ed piece for The News & Observer, one of the nation's best regional newspapers...
Sean Becketti, chief economist for Freddie Mac, was quoted recently noting that, 'It is only a matter of time before sea-level rise and storm surges become so unbearable that people will leave, ditching their mortgages...'
I believe that Becketti is right, and that within 50 years, a great part of our islands, especially the low, narrow Outer Banks, on a very gently sloping land surface, will become largely uninhabitable. The anticipated 3-foot sea level rise by 2100 will mark the end of development of any kind on our barrier islands.