The Urban Land Institute Advises Toa Baja, Puerto Rico on Hurricane Preparedness and Resilience
ULI Panelists provided recommendations to aid Puerto Rico's resilient growth and recovery from the deadly 2017 Hurricane Maria
A ULI National Advisory Services Panel provided recommendations on social, economic, and physical resilience in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico in December 2018 following the devastating 2017 Hurricane Maria.
Location:
Toa Baja, Puerto RicoCity / Client:
Municipality of Toa BajaWith Support From:
The Kresge Foundation
Alvarez-Diaz & Villalon
ULI Southeast Florida/CaribbeanDate:
December 2-7, 2018Status:
Complete, Report available hereTopics:
Resilience
Economic Development
HousingULI Center / Focus Area:
The Kresge Foundation
Post-Hurricane
With the support of The Kresge Foundation, ULI Southeast Florida / Caribbean, and the Puerto Rico Builder’s Association, a team of ULI Advisory Services Panelists traveled to the Municipality of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico, to provide expert advice on enhancing the community’s economic and climate resilience following the catastrophic and deadly 2017 Hurricane Maria. The panelists provided recommendations to aid short- and long-term economic growth and resilient development.
This panel was tasked with providing recommendations to the hard-hit municipio of Toa Baja, which experienced a loss of economic activity and infrastructural damages amounting to more than $1.3 billion focused on:
Specifically, ULI was asked to consider and provide strategic recommendations on the following areas:
Learn more about ULI’s other post-hurricane efforts in St. Croix and in St. Thomas.
Toa Baja Mayor “Betito” Márquez (left) speaks with Advisory Panel member Tom Roth on a field visit to the banks of Rio La Plata.
Panel Experts
James (Jim) DeFrancia, Panel Chair
Lowe Enterprises
Aspen, COSarah Sieloff, Panel Vice-Cair
Center for Creative Land Recycling
Oakland, CAFernando Liano Berjano
City of El Paso, TX
El Paso, TXMichael Bloom
R.G. Miller Engineers
Houston, TXChristopher Calott, AIA
University of California, Berkely
Oakland, CADon Edwards
Justice & Sustainability Associates
Washington, DCTrini Rodriguez
Parker Rodriguez, Inc.
Alexandira, VATom Roth
Grass River Property
Miami, FLBob van der Zande
City of Amsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam, NetherlandsKamilah Acebal-Acevedo, Panel Intern
Hart Howerton
Miami, FL
Following a week of briefings, study tours, and community stakeholder interviews, the panel delivered strategic recommendations to enhance the social, physical, and economic resilience of the municipality of Toa Baja. The panel’s recommendations are as follows:
Position the municipality to receive CDBG-DR funds by prioritizing “ready-to-go” projects and establishing strategic partnerships among the community and the local federal governments. The panel encourages that Toa Baja pursues HUD technical assistance funding to advise on economic redevelopment opportunities. By doing so, the panel believes that Toa Baja will build credibility to position itself to compete for and receive earmarked funds that are available to address redevelopment and disaster recovery. By demonstrating a readiness to deliver projects through thoughtful and methodological approaches, Toa Baja can kick start an impact redevelopment strategy.
Identify development zones with higher elevation and incentivize developers to deliver projects in those areas. The municipality of Toa Baja should prepare short, medium, and long- term plans that will create opportunities to support catalytic development projects that are on higher elevation. Supporting these developments can help Toa Baja respond to critical housing demand while positioning the municipality for sustainable economic growth.
Organize and empower residents to build social capacity. The panel recognizes that communication, community engagement, and consensus are key building blocks to achieve a strong civic infrastructure. The panel recommends that the municipality leadership should target their focus on preparing and enabling residents to rebuild and recover as a community. The panel suggests starting a program to help residents fill out applications to receive aid in rebuilding or relocation, and help resident learn how to better prepare for storms and other risks together. A strong civic infrastructure will encourage the community to collectively to prepare itself and bounce back in a way unique to their community.
Designate a Municipal Resilience Liaison to advocate for funding from Commonwealth and National sources as well as communicate with community leaders and representatives. The panel recommends designating a Liaison within the municipality’s organizational structure to bridge communication between community affairs officers and municipal and commonwealth leadership. This role would enhance organizational alignment by prioritizing and advocating for on the ground needs, supporting public private partnerships, and identifying other sources of funding.
Incorporate nature-based design systems and recreational opportunities into the Rio de La Plata canalization project. The original Rio de la Plata canalization project was devised as a single purpose project – flood risk reduction – with grey infrastructure. The panelists recommend designing and implementing the project with nature-based design concepts and recreational opportunities to activate the waterfront while offering the same level of flood protection.
Prioritize code compliance among new and existing construction. The panel advocates for more intensive code enforcement to make sure that all new construction is code compliant. The panel also recommends a program to update existing structures to reach compliance. The panel identified funds available to increase Toa Baja’s number of code-enforcement inspectors, which would include the training of new officers, partnerships with community organizations, promoting cross-agency coordination, and the implementation of a penalty for non-compliance.
Invest and strengthen electrical infrastructure in Toa Baja. The panel recommends fortifying electrical infrastructure throughout the municipality, as interruptions in services lasted several months post Hurricane Maria. The panel encourages implementing energy efficiency practices, demand response mechanisms, and renewable energy deployment in the municipal government and at community scale. A reliable energy system would support redevelopment and potentially attract new economic opportunities.
November 29, 2018
ULI Panelists provided recommendations to aid Puerto Rico's resilient growth and recovery from the deadly 2017 Hurricane Maria
By Jacqueline Canales and Leah Sheppard April 14, 2019 April 17, 2019
A ULI Advisory Services panel provides recommendations for recovery in the municipality of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico with resilience in mind.
Urban Land Institute’s Advisory Services Panel presents their recommendations for the municipality of Toa Baja. Sitting in the front row (l-r): Ricardo Alvarez-Diaz (ULI-Puerto Rico chapter co-chair), Toa Baja mayor “Betito” Marquez, Alfredo Martinez Sanchez (vp of Puerto Rico Builders’ Association) and Jessica Boehland (The Kresge Foundation). Puerto Rico
Advisory Panel members attended an evening reception with members of the community. In the image, residents speak to panel members Michael Bloom (left) and Fernando Liaño Berjano.
Panel members Don Edwards (left) and Michael Bloom study an image on the screen prior to the panel’s meeting with the mayor of Toa Baja, Bernardo “Betito” Márquez.
ULI’s Paul Bernard (center) speaks with Erica Ruiz (director Enterprise Communities) and Ricardo Alvarez-Diaz, ULI-Puerto Rico chapter co-chair. Puerto Rico
Urban Land Institute’s Advisory Services Panel presents their recommendations for the municipality of Toa Baja. Audience members follow the panel’s recommendations. Puerto Rico
Urban Land Institute advisory services panel members during their first field visit to the municipality of Toa Baja.
Urban Land Institute Advisory Services Panel members’ welcome reception with Toa Baja residents, community activists and municipal personnel. Formal introduction of the panelists to the attendees. Kamilah Acebal-Acevedo, panel intern, introduces herself to the guests. With her, left to right: Fernando Liaño Berjano, Chris Calott and Jacqueline Canales. Puerto Rico
Urban Land Institute’s Advisory Services Panel presents their recommendations for the municipality of Toa Baja. Audience members follow the panel’s recommendations closely.
Photo of the Palo Seco area, taken during ULI’s Advisory Services Panel in Toa Baja, PR in December 2018.
Michael Bloom of the Urban Land Institute’s Advisory Services Panel gathered to work on recommendations for the municipality of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.
Panelist Don Edwards reacts to ideas proposed by the resilience-focused team while the panel gathers to work on recommendations for the municipality of Tia Baja. To his left, Jessica Boehland from The Kresge Foundation.
Advisory Services Panel members Bob van der Zande (left) and Fernando Liaño Berjano study a map of Toa Baja during a field visit to various sites within the municipality of Toa Baja.
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Urban Land Institute’s Advisory Services Panel presents their recommendations for the municipality of Toa Baja. Sitting in the front row (l-r): Ricardo Alvarez-Diaz (ULI-Puerto Rico chapter co-chair), Toa Baja mayor “Betito” Marquez, Alfredo Martinez Sanchez (vp of Puerto Rico Builders’ Association) and Jessica Boehland (The Kresge Foundation). Puerto Rico
Advisory Panel members attended an evening reception with members of the community. In the image, residents speak to panel members Michael Bloom (left) and Fernando Liaño Berjano.
Panel members Don Edwards (left) and Michael Bloom study an image on the screen prior to the panel’s meeting with the mayor of Toa Baja, Bernardo “Betito” Márquez.
ULI’s Paul Bernard (center) speaks with Erica Ruiz (director Enterprise Communities) and Ricardo Alvarez-Diaz, ULI-Puerto Rico chapter co-chair. Puerto Rico
Urban Land Institute’s Advisory Services Panel presents their recommendations for the municipality of Toa Baja. Audience members follow the panel’s recommendations. Puerto Rico
Urban Land Institute advisory services panel members during their first field visit to the municipality of Toa Baja.
Urban Land Institute Advisory Services Panel members’ welcome reception with Toa Baja residents, community activists and municipal personnel. Formal introduction of the panelists to the attendees. Kamilah Acebal-Acevedo, panel intern, introduces herself to the guests. With her, left to right: Fernando Liaño Berjano, Chris Calott and Jacqueline Canales. Puerto Rico
Urban Land Institute’s Advisory Services Panel presents their recommendations for the municipality of Toa Baja. Audience members follow the panel’s recommendations closely.
Photo of the Palo Seco area, taken during ULI’s Advisory Services Panel in Toa Baja, PR in December 2018.
Michael Bloom of the Urban Land Institute’s Advisory Services Panel gathered to work on recommendations for the municipality of Toa Baja, Puerto Rico.
Panelist Don Edwards reacts to ideas proposed by the resilience-focused team while the panel gathers to work on recommendations for the municipality of Tia Baja. To his left, Jessica Boehland from The Kresge Foundation.
Advisory Services Panel members Bob van der Zande (left) and Fernando Liaño Berjano study a map of Toa Baja during a field visit to various sites within the municipality of Toa Baja.