Kensington streets get flood-fighting makeover led by trailblazing NYC engineer
One of the city’s latest tools may look simple - gray, hole-filled slabs known as porous panels, but they’re built to absorb stormwater before it overwhelms drains and sewer systems.
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As climate change brings stronger summer storms to New York City, officials are turning to new infrastructure designed to keep streets from flooding.
One of the city’s latest tools may look simple - gray, hole-filled slabs known as porous panels, but they’re built to absorb stormwater before it overwhelms drains and sewer systems.
“We have more rain, heavier intensity. That's a way for the city to eliminate ponding and help storing the water while the plant is actually treating the water that gets to it,” said Nathalie Pierre-Georges, assistant commissioner at the NYC Department of Design and Construction.
Pierre-Georges is leading the charge behind several major flood-mitigation street redesigns across Brooklyn. In the department’s 29-year history, she is the first woman to serve as assistant commissioner overseeing borough-wide infrastructure projects.
“I don't feel as if it's a role that a woman cannot do. I'm an engineer. I'm as qualified as anybody else. The sky's the limit,” Pierre-Georges said.
The large-scale project stretches across Borough Park, Kensington and Ocean Parkway, where crews are installing porous concrete panels and upgraded curbs designed to capture and filter stormwater. The goal is to reduce street flooding, prevent sewer backups and keep polluted runoff from reaching local waterways.
Construction crews say the work can be unpredictable, but Pierre-Georges believes the impact on neighborhoods makes every challenge worthwhile.
“This is rewarding work. Once you dig, you never know what you're going to encounter. So it's a matter of adapting based on your field conditions and making it work,” she said.
During an on-site infiltration test, the porous panels demonstrated how quickly water can seep through the material - a key feature officials hope will help communities better withstand intense rainfall in the years ahead.
“Our goal is to help the community, improve their livelihood - being safe, being secure, being happy in your neighborhood,” Pierre-Georges said.
The full project is expected to be completed by fall 2029.
