Sea level rise is threatening billions in coastal property. A California lawmaker is proposing a novel way to retreat from the threat: buying and renting out properties as long as they’re habitable.  An Axel Koester/Corbis image via NPR.

— News covered by Quincy Quarry News with commentary added.

Stormy weather
A Jesse Costa/WBUR image

California has a new idea for homes at risk from rising seas: buy, rent, retreat.

Long history of wacky ideas out of California notwithstanding – many of which have been floated by recent arrivistes from elsewhere, a California legislator has floated a compelling idea to respond to climate change and already rising sea levels as regards at-risk waterfront houses.

A very intriguing idea.

The idea: rather than spend gazillions on seawalls, disaster response funding, and prohibitively expensive flood insurance in a sure to be losing battle against the relentless power of the ocean, the proposal is to buy the most at-risk homes and then rent them back to their former owners or others with the proviso that they msut relocate should a storm come along and gravely damage their residences. 

Then New Jersey Governor Chris Christie busted while taking liberties taking up a beach
An NJ Advance Media/NJ.com image

Storm-damaged property would then be cleared and, where possible, repurposed for recreational use or at least public access if such can be safely undertaken.

Granted, the cost would be considerable but at least it would be moderated by rental income until such time as the property is taken out by the ocean. 

That and no one would be moved out of their home other than should a ruinous storm strike.

Also granted, a proper cost/benefit analysis would have to be undertaken so as to duly consider storm damage costs, insurance costs, and other such things, but this proposal is worth a proper review.,

Source: California Has A New Idea For Homes At Risk From Rising Seas: Buy, Rent, Retreat

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