IN THE NEWS: Norton quoted in New York Times article on sea walls

Taubman College’s Richard Norton was recently quoted in a New York Times article about the conflict between property owners and beachgoers in the face of rising sea levels and “coastal squeeze.” Speaking during a panel discussion at the 2025 Mobility and Resilience conference earlier this summer at Columbia University, the article reports that Norton had asked, “Are you going to save the beach house, or do you want to save the beach?  Because you cannot save them both.”

Norton, professor of urban and regional planning, holds a joint appointment as professor of program in the environment with the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts and the School for Environment and Sustainability. He researches coastal area management and environmental planning with a focus on managing coastal shoreland along the Great Lakes.

Read the full article on coastal management and beach access at the New York Times’ website. (Registration or a paid subscription may be required for full access.)