THE SILVER LINING TO CLIMATE ADAPTATION -- Part 6

The High Cost of Resiliency Efforts and the Hope that 

Lies in Wise Government Planning and Spending

Juan Mullerat, founding principal of PlusUrbia Design — an award-winning urban design firm with resiliency related projects in Miami and overseas — coincidentally lives just a few blocks from Murley. 

Both are in Shenandoah, a century-old Miami neighborhood on relatively high ground but only two miles from the rising waters of Biscayne Bay. Mullerat’s firm, also located in Shenandoah and within two major transit corridors, is part of the consultant team looking at land use, increased density, station locations and funding mechanisms for the SMART Plan. 

The plan aims to bring rapid transit to a half dozen major corridors, in the form of heavy rail, light rail, bus rapid transit or other premium mode. 

Most of the corridors follow old railroad beds, meaning they have the bonus of being located on higher ground.

 “There are many aspects to resiliency — it’s a holistic approach that is not limited to heavy engineering for flood gates, stormwater pumps, [water] retention basins and redesigned coast lines,” he said.

“Resiliency is very much about being prepared for shocks and stresses; it is about creating livable environments that focus on identity, equity, mobility, health and affordability. 

To that end, the vast majority of PlusUrbia’s public sector work has focused on responsible growth and livable democratic urbanism.