If you live in Annapolis or you come here all the time, you couldn’t help but notice that some parts of the city look older.
They’re aging, and well… It shows.
Every rainstorm completely overwhelms the docks at City Dock, and there are a few really popular parking lots that get flooded so often that people have started to avoid them.
Meanwhile, every year, there’s another meeting about whether we should redesign this street or maybe that one, or maybe we should redevelop an old waterfront property.
Nobody’s bored, so this isn’t a way to have some fun.
The reality is that the water is rising, and the infrastructure is old.
So, within the next decade (or so), some parts of Annapolis will probably look quite different.
Which Parts of Annapolis Are Likely to Change (Soon)
Annapolis looks amazing.
There are a few people who will dispute that. And it’s all thanks to most places holding up really well – even by today’s standards – meaning they aren’t likely to change anytime soon.
But there are parts of the city that are struggling a bit. And this has much to do with Annapolis being so prone to flooding, which is (of course) a huge problem.
City Dock
This is ground zero for any talks of redevelopment because it floods so easily; it’d be funny if it weren’t so sad.
If you own a shop there, then you’re watching the forecast 24/7.
But there’s good news here. The city has actually been planning to do a bit of work here, with the general idea being to make the entire area have better drainage, as well as raised walkways, just in case. Another project was also mentioned where water barriers would be installed, and they’d design them in a way that would blend them in with the existing historic surroundings.
It looks like things will get better for City Dock in the near-ish future. It’ll probably be safer and drier, but it won’t lose its historic charm.
Ego Alley
Quite the name, right?
This area is known for boat parades as well as numerous crowded restaurants. And while this is great in itself, the fact that most of the area is exposed to a lot of saltwater also means the docks/walkways aren’t doing that great.
And it’s projected that over the next decade, there will have to be major updates if we want to avoid negligence/liability on the city’s part.
They’ll most likely start with the marina infrastructure, which also means better lighting and new areas for seating.
A lot of waterfront projects that involve reinforcement now use specialized structural methods done by a shotcrete contractor.
The shotcrete (spray-on) concrete pouring method is amazing here as it allows for easy strengthening of walls in hard-to-reach places. And because of the unique application method, it’s a great way to make all the retaining walls as well as shorelines stronger without having to turn the entire area into a massive construction site for half a year or having to tear the entire area down and build anew.
And since the constraint saltwater exposure weakens concrete faster than it naturally does, this is much needed. Plus, this type of pouring is extremely versatile whenever you have large projects that have access trouble or require specialized (e.g., vertical pours).
Eastport Waterfront
Everyone says that Eastport looks like the working-class side of Annapolis, but look at those older waterfront properties. They’re all getting renovated or elevated (or both) because the flooding is getting worse.
And property values are going up, so there are more owners who can afford whatever needs to be done to make their properties more resistant to floods.
So what’s the risk here?
Well, it’s that public access to water will go down. And this has to do with the fact that private property will simply close off A LOT of the open areas.
Sure, Eastport will still look like Eastport. But the entire shoreline will move towards more construction. And the question here is whether this is a good thing or not.
There are a couple of good points for each side of the argument, so we won’t go into that here.
Spa Creek
Spa Creek has one major flaw, and this has to do with flooding being an increased issue. It’s more severe than it normally would be due to its shape, which prevents water from flowing through it quickly. And this causes floods, which normally wouldn’t happen, to cause headaches for the locals.
Nowadays, some streets and even some driveways flood on a regular basis.
During the next 10 years, you can expect to see a good deal of work being done on the shoreline and drainage.
All the small bridges might have to be completely replaced (or at least raised), and all the kayak launch spots could also receive some much-needed updates.
And all this poses a challenge or getting it actually done without damaging nearby homes.
The next decade is critical for Spa Creek, and it’ll show whether there’s going to be major renovations and upgrades or if the area will suffer further.
Conclusion
So, what did we learn here? What will Annapolis look like in 10 years’ time?
It’s still retaining its historic foundation. This won’t change. Changes will come in the form of safety and comfort.
In 10 years, you’ll see water and old/dated infrastructure get a facelift, all while keeping its character alive.
In short → Annapolis will stay the same; everything you love will still be here; it’ll just be a bit better.
