Latest Update
- We are pleased to post the draft report on flood resilience planning for Long Wharf. We thank all stakeholders for their input and guidance over the past two years, including more than ten public engagements. Please let us know if you have any questions, comments or concerns before the plan is finalized on November 30th.
Overview
Long Wharf is an iconic public destination and part of Boston’s identity. This historic pier is a bustling marine transit hub for passenger ferries, harbor cruise ships, and sightseeing boats connecting pedestrians, passengers, tourists, and residents coming to and from the Downtown area of Boston. It is also the gateway to the Boston Harbor Islands. Designated as a National Historic Landmark, Long Wharf hosts significant public open space, famous historic structures, and Harborwalk access with expansive views of the Harbor.
Today, high tides routinely impact Long Wharf, and the area sustained significant damage from coastal storm surge during recent Nor’Easters. Climate Ready Boston (2016) and Coastal Resilience Solutions for Downtown and North End (2020) identified Long Wharf as one of the most vulnerable flood pathways affecting the city for current and future storm events, and proposed a set of comprehensive district-level strategies to protect the area from coastal flooding and sea-level rise.
Project Goals and Objectives
Building on this important work, the Planning Department has launched the Long Wharf Flood Mitigation Planning & Feasibility study. The project aims to develop a feasible, stakeholder supported solution for Long Wharf that protects the pier itself, its public uses and infrastructure, as well as the neighborhoods around it, against current and future coastal flooding and sea-level rise. The study scope focuses on publicly-owned land reaching from the edge of Waterfront Park (Christopher Columbus) in the north to the southern edge of Old Atlantic Avenue in the south.
This project will recommend solutions to current and near-term flooding, guidelines to retrofit and protect individual structures, and a set of alternative designs that will contribute to planning and delivering a comprehensive coastal flood protection system in Downtown and the North End. The study will also serve as a foundation for the City to apply for further state and federal grants that can help to advance later stages of design and engineering and, ultimately, construction.
The Project will provide ample space for community stakeholder engagement throughout the planning and design process. The team remains in contact with Long Wharf tenants and abutters, such as the MBTA, New England Aquarium, Marriott Hotel, Boston Harbor City Cruises, and Boston Waterboat Marina, and will include a broader range of community stakeholders in this process.
Project Partners
- City of Boston, Environment Department
- City of Boston, Parks and Recreation Department
- Boston Water & Sewer Commission
- Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
Community Engagement
Office Hours
This is an opportunity for members of the community to meet with the Planning Department to share feedback on the March 26 public community workshop. These office hours will be held in the Leventhal Room at the Boston Harbor Hotel, 70 Rowes Wharf, Boston, MA 02110.
Monday, March 31 | 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday, April 2 | 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Long Wharf Flood Resilience Planning and Feasibility Community Workshop #2
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 | 6:00 PM–8:00 PM
Workshop - Slides | Workshop - Slides (Spanish) | Workshop - Slides (Traditional Chinese) | Workshop - Slides (Simplified Chinese) | Meeting - Recording
Introductory Community Workshop - Long Wharf Coastal Flood Resilience Planning & Feasibility
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 | 6:00 PM–8:00 PM
Workshop - Slides | Workshop - Slides (Spanish) | Workshop - Slides (Traditional Chinese) | Workshop - Slides (Simplified Chinese) | Meeting - Recording
Project Documents
Resources