Ansonia Resilience Opportunity Area Map Portfolio
Project Consultant: AECOM
Location: Ansonia has high social, heat, and flood vulnerabilities, has a commitment to transit and supporting passenger rail, already hosts affordable housing, and supports development of new market rate housing. The city currently supports 15% low to moderate income housing which is subsidized. Ansonia is also classified as a distressed municipality. To remain resilient, Ansonia will need to ensure that redevelopment is not at risk of flooding, that people have access to options for mitigating extreme heat, and that transit remains available and viable during extreme events that may be exacerbated by climate change.
The Resilient Ansonia project focuses on adapting to current and future climate induced flooding impacts in the downtown area and mitigating extreme heat impacts for residents. Key questions are whether, and how, future flooding could overtop or otherwise adversely affect the existing flood protection system; whether 0.2% flood zones like the Olson Drive parcels could face increasing flood risks; and whether future redevelopment and a new connector road can foster connectivity in the TOD area while providing opportunities for extreme heat relief and mitigation. Adaptation options and implementation planning that are identified and carried forward to conceptual design will incorporate the Resilient Connecticut PERSISTS criteria.
The following questions will be answered as part of this project area:
- What are the most feasible and effective options for addressing extreme heat in downtown Ansonia? Options should include but are not limited to: shelters, cooling centers, recreational water access, trees and canopies that provide shade, green infrastructure, reducing pavement areas, and programs to provide efficient air conditioning to existing housing.
- Will future flooding along the Naugatuck River be controlled by the flood protection system, and are vulnerabilities apparent? Can sufficient space be set aside for future enhancement of the flood protection system, if needed?
- How and where can a new connector road be comingled with the flood protection system without introducing new vulnerabilities? What are the implications surrounding new responsibilities for the City to operate additional closure structures and perform new inspections and maintenance?
- Is a new bridge likely to be feasible and can it be designed to facilitate pedestrian and bike connection across the river, supporting the current TOD and the routing study recently conducted for a segment of the riverwalk that would run parallel to the Ansonia Copper and Brass site and a proposed access road?
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