PLAN

flood defense system near the University of Bridgeport that would provide protection from coastal storm surges, and green infrastructure improvements such as pump stations.

UB is reportedly moving its athletic facilities to a more vulnerable area closer to the water now occupied by the Health Sciences building, which will move to a safer place where the athletic area is now.

The project also plan calls for

a storm water park adjacent to the former Marina Village site, which is supposed to be redeveloped into the new Windward apartments and health center. The park would bring another green space and pumping station to filter the excess rainfall.

Closer to the shoreline, French said, University Avenue would be elevated and turned into a vital flood evacuation route.

Reclassified

Changes to the neighborhood would essentially reclassify the South End with FEMA, making

it a lower risk area, and ease the path to public- private developments.

“We would basically get a new map, and that map would then have the area behind the flood wall,” French said.

With the changes to the neighborhood, she said, there would no longer be conditions on permitting for developing in the area.

Private investors and homeowners, French said, stand to benefit from lower flood insurance premiums.

Barring any setbacks, officials suggest that changes to the

South End could begin by next year and reach completion by 2022 which is the deadline for spending the grant funding.

For the next 45 days, the project will be open public review and comment as organizers prepare a written evaluation of the expected environmental impacts. Comments on the project will be accepted until Feb. 22.

A Public hearing for the project will be held on Feb 12. at the Schelfhaudt Gallery at 84 Iranistan Ave.