2025 Theses Master's

Understanding Waterfront Resilience Through Participatory Planning Practices for Climate Adaptation in Lower Manhattan

Huang, Can

As centers of activity and connectivity, waterfronts, especially in coastal cities, face increasing challenges from climate change, including sea level rise and storm surges. These risks heighten the challenge of balancing public access, economic vitality, and ecological preservation while ensuring long-term urban resilience. At the same time, resilience efforts often intersect with social justice, as planning decisions can reinforce or mitigate existing socio-economic inequalities.

This study examines how participatory planning practices enhance urban resilience in Lower Manhattan, with case studies in the Lower East Side and Battery Park City. Through comparative analysis, the research will explore how distinct socio-economic contexts have shaped participatory planning processes, the challenges and conflicts that emerged, and how these practices have strengthened waterfront resilience against climate risks. It also investigates the roles and power dynamics of various stakeholders, assessing how they navigate tensions, resolve conflicts, and foster collaboration in resilience planning.

By critically analyzing these processes, this study aims to extract key lessons from participatory planning practices that can inform more inclusive and effective resilience strategies. While rooted in the context of Lower Manhattan, the findings will offer broader insights into developing sustainable and inclusive approaches to resilience, helping cities worldwide reconcile social justice with the urgency of climate risks not limited to waterfront environments.