Graduate Alumni Julie Wright
Julie Wright, who earned her Master of Science degree in the Environmental and Sustainability Sciences (EVSS) program at the College of Charleston in 2021, recently published a significant study alongside her advisor, Dr. Calvin Blackwell, and committee member Chris Mothorpe. The article, released this summer, delves into the economic implications of home elevation in flood-prone areas, particularly in Charleston, SC.
After earning her degree, Wright applied her expertise as an Environmental Manager for the Town of Mount Pleasant, where she worked for two and a half years. Her role focused on enhancing community resilience against flooding, pollution, and habitat loss—critical issues for coastal communities like Mount Pleasant.
The published study highlights a crucial gap in existing research: while numerous studies suggest that elevating properties in flood-prone areas can be cost-effective, few have analyzed the specific impact of such elevation on property values. Wright and her team investigated the effects of multiple flood events on the property values of both elevated and non-elevated homes in Charleston, SC.
Their findings reveal that flooding significantly reduces the rate of property appreciation. More surprisingly, the study suggests that home elevation actually increases the rate of lost appreciation. This counterintuitive result indicates that the market does not highly value home elevation as a flood risk adaptation and mitigation strategy.
Wright’s research provides valuable insights for policymakers, real estate developers, and homeowners in flood-prone regions. It calls into question the common assumption that home elevation is a universally beneficial investment for property value retention. As climate change continues to pose significant challenges, studies like this are essential for developing informed, effective strategies to protect communities and their investments.
