Date of Award

8-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP)

Department

City Planning and Real Estate Development

Committee Chair/Advisor

Dr Caitlin Dyckman, JD

Committee Member

Dr John Gaber, AICP

Committee Member

Dr Madeleine Bolick

Abstract

The rising sea level casts formidable threats on community-based historic places within coastal communities. These community-defined historic places derive their meaning from local values and are more recognized within the local community. Unlike recognized iconic historic places, these resources are confronted with inadequate resources to address the impacts of punctuated climate events. This study investigates the imminent threats posed by sea level rise (SLR) to community-defined historic places within the next three decades (2025) and explores mitigation strategies proposed by stakeholders. The study used a GIS-based (enhanced bathtub model) to model the impact of coastal inundation on three historic places in South Carolina. It used a systematic approach to review community plans to evaluate the hazard mitigation strategies (managed retreat, bolstering physical resilience or abandoning) stakeholders are considering for these places.

The study findings indicated the complex interplay between environmental threats, community resilience and historic preservation in coastal South Carolina. The research model unveils that cherished community historic places are at immediate risk in the next three decades and reveals how the local riverine system, infrastructure and geological features define the impact of sea level rise on coastal communities. Yet, amidst these challenges, communities grapple with innovative solutions to bolster resilience and protect their community's assets, but these solutions are not tailored for the community-defined historical places. However, the study also reveals critical gaps in hazard mitigation and preparedness for community-defined historic places, highlighting the urgent need for integrative approaches that prioritize the preservation of places rather than objects in hazard mitigation.

Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0153-9476

Available for download on Sunday, August 31, 2025

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