What the city says about flooding here
The city’s flood brochure says Morris Cove has particular problems with flooding because of its proximity to Morris Creek and the coast, and the regional hazard plan lists the East Shore (Morris Cove) among the neighborhoods primarily prone to coastal flooding. New Haven participates in the National Flood Insurance Program, and the brochure asks builders to check with the City Plan Department before building so that the project meets flood requirements.
Settle these before you choose finishes
- Look up your address on the FEMA flood map and the city’s flood layer, and note the zone.
- Ask the City Plan Department whether the project needs flood review, and whether the scope of the whole renovation matters.
- If you carry flood insurance, ask your agent how a remodel affects your coverage.
- Ask your remodeler how the plan treats the lowest cabinets, flooring and appliances if water enters the room.
- Keep the answers in writing and attach them to the contract. The contract guide says what belongs in it.
Choices that suit a low, compact kitchen
If your kitchen is compact, small kitchen planning, countertops and cabinets are natural starting points. Ask your remodeler how each material in the materials guide behaves around water. In a neighborhood with this flood history, a surface that tolerates a wet room is worth more than one that only photographs well.
Questions from Morris Cove homeowners
Do I need flood insurance to remodel?
The remodel itself does not require it, but a mortgage lender may if the house is in a mapped flood zone. Ask your lender and your insurance agent, and keep any elevation or flood paperwork together.
Will flood rules change what I can do to the kitchen?
They can. In a mapped flood zone the city may apply flood requirements to larger renovations. Ask the City Plan Department how your whole project would be counted before you fix the scope.
Is Morris Cove a historic district?
It is not one of the three local districts we found (Wooster Square, Quinnipiac River and City Point). If you plan an exterior change, ask the City Plan Department to confirm your address.