Preservation in a Changing Climate Resources

Recognizing the ongoing impacts of climate change on historic resources and the need for action to protect these irreplaceable assets, the City of Salem and the Salem Preservation Partners joined together in 2021 to create the Preservation in a Changing Climate initiative. As part of this effort, we are gathering information to help inform and guide planning efforts to preserve historic resources from climate change impacts. The resources below also includes information for historic property owners impacted by a changing climate.

This resource list is a work in progress and includes information shared at the 2021, 2022 and 2023 conferences:

resource websites

• Sustainability, Energy, Resilience & Historic Buildings - National Park Service website

Property owner guides

• Greater portland Landmarks - “Staying above water” Property Owner’s guide

• Newport RI - Policy Statement and Design Guidelines for Elevating Historic Buildings

• REsilient Rehab: A guide for Historic Buildings in Miami/Dade County

• Boston Resilient: Historic Buildings Design Guide

• Cape Cod Flood Area Design Guidelines

• Treatment of Flood Damaged Older & Historic Buildings

Studies and Reports:

• WGBH Article: The House of the Seven Gables Races to Preserve its Story before it is lost to climate change

• National Park Service Guidelines on Flood Adaptation for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings

• DRAFT: Massachusetts Climate Change Assessment 2022

• Trustees of Reservations - State of the Coast Report 2020

• 2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report

• Historic New England Preservation White Papers

• salem municipal vulnerability preparedness (MVP) Report and mvp risk matrix (2020)

Preservation Planning Efforts:

• Maine Historic Preservation Commission: Climate Change and Historic resources resource page

• Preservation Society of Charleston Resiliency Efforts

• Silver Jackets Program

  This program brings together multiple state, federal, and sometimes tribal and local agencies to reduce the risk of—and enhance response and recovery from—flooding and other natural disasters in the United States.

• US Climate Resilience Toolkit

• “Remembrance of Climate Futures” art Installation in Salem by Thomas Starr

• Salem Sound Coastwatch

• Resilient Together - Salem MA & Beverly MA

PRESENTATIONS

• Derby Wharf - Resiliency on Salem’s Maritime Waterfront

• Marblehead Municipal Light Department and Adjoining Public Lands Coastal Resilience Adaptation Strategies

Salem boards and departments:

• Salem Sustainability, Energy & Resiliency Committee

Click on images below for more information on the 2023, 2022 & 2021 conferences