Last year's spring storm has changed life for business owners along the Jones Falls
"I do stress about it," she said.
Purcell, nicknamed B.G. for Big Girl, is one of many retailers, property owners and developers along the
"This was just a disaster," Purcell said.
"We had baguettes (from Stone Mill) literally floating in our back room," said
At the Press Box, a sports newspaper, the staff had to work in a temporary space upstairs -- cramped and with no air conditioning -- while their flooded offices were repaired and refurbished, said sales account manager
Flooding also damaged several businesses and office buildings in the
Attorney
Charm City Cupcakes, which occupied a small former guard house on the site, is gone, succeeded in June by KoDee Cakes. There hasn't been any serious flooding lately, but KoDee cashier
"I've been here when there's rain," she said, describing how large puddles form at the door. "It's not pretty."
The
Barnes said he's not nervous about more flash flooding.
"If it reaches the second floor, it's time to call for an ark," he said.
But flooding is never far from the thoughts of merchants.
"It's a reality," Arnold said.
Changing climate
Flash flooding has become even more of a reality in recent years, as climate changes cause precipitation to fall faster in shorter durations of time,
In the next 30 years, the number of so-called tidal events in
The city is trying to take a proactive approach, to avoid catastrophic situations like superstorm Sandy or Hurricane Katrina, Baja said.
"I have been going out to let (business owners) know a storm is coming, so they know to get ready," she said.
The city last year updated the flood plain section of its natural resources code and, following the state's lead in 2012, requires property owners seeking new construction permits to raise electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems by an extra foot of elevation.
The city can't regulate owners of existing properties unless they make substantial changes, but encourages them to retrofit their properties with flood doors and walls.
The city is applying to the
"There's a whole slew of regulations we can show
Part of that process is teaching property owners and businesses to take disaster preparedness steps to reduce damages, such as switching to metal shelving and not storing valuables in basements.
"Part of our work is public education," said
The city bans new construction in regulatory "floodways," areas that city officials say are intended to flood, and strictly regulates changes to buildings already in the floodway. One such building is an old cotton mill at
Stosur said Tufaro is seeking a variance to build the market on the lower level.
"We have been working with him for a few months, trying to come up with the right sweet spot that will enforce the flood plain code and allow him to do the mixed-use project he wants to do," Stosur said. "It presents a lot of challenges."
Tufaro said the building flooded last year and that he is doing flood-proofing, including the installation of flood shutters and special flood windows. He said he plans to open in 2016.
"It's the balance between preservation of historic buildings and protection measures," Tufaro said. "I am concerned and trying to deal with it."
The former Northwest Ice Rink in
"That's another very challenging site," Stosur said. "Any investment in that property that qualifies as a substantial improvement will have to meet the flood plan/floodway requirements," which could be cost-prohibitive, he said.
Tufaro also owns and has flood-proofed Mill No. 1, a mixed-use complex of buildings at
"We got a pretty good test a year ago," Tufaro said. "Remember, these buildings have survived for 150 years."
Stosur said despite the dangers of flooding and the strict regulations, the lure for developers is to be on the water.
"Water is magic," he said.
But In the face of global climate changes, discussion of development in flood plains and floodways "is going to become an undeniable national issue," Stosur said.
Said Feinberg, "We need to deal with this as a nation."
Looking to the future
"We've done a lot of work at both properties," said
Several of his recent measures at
But Arnold and Antos, the co-owners of Nepenthe, and Purcell, of
All three owners say they wish a tall wall could be constructed between the
Purcell has installed metal shelves and now uses a more sophisticated inventory system. She said she makes more such decisions with last year's storm and flooding in mind.
"In hindsight, it's taught me to do things a little differently," she said.
Purcell is more hopeful for the immediate future, saying, "I think we're in a better place."
But she's in the third year of a five-year lease at
"I look forward to not feeling so antsy about it," she said. "We are definitely entertaining relocating our business."
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