The Fuss & O’Neill and Woods Hole Group consulting firms will unveil a floodproofing concept for Main Street and Merchants Way during a virtual public hearing on Wednesday, May 17 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. 

The meeting is part of the ongoing Resilient Main Street project, which the town received a state grant for last year. The consultants are looking for resident feedback on the proposed concept.

During an April meeting, the consultants presented two different designs for how to floodproof Main Street. One emphasized long-term protection from floods, while the other sought a compromise between safety and economic redevelopment on Main Street and Merchants Way. 

The “Maximize Resilience” design would demolish older buildings, which would be more expensive to floodproof, and create flood-absorbing green space where they once stood. 

The “Maximize Redevelopment” design would replace the old buildings with new ones. 

The final concept, which will be presented on May 17, will likely be a mixture of the two.

In the past month, the consultants have been analyzing whether the potential benefits of each design are worth the potential costs. 

To learn more about the Resilient Main Street project and give feedback, visit tinyurl.com/resilientmainstreet or email czakas@fando.com.