"Years went by, and we kept daydreaming about this garden on the garage roof, and then just decided to make it happen," said Bryant, a computational biologist who also runs a nonprofit called Navigation Games. Her domestic partner, Dave Yee, works at Novartis. This reflects her long-standing passion for integrating green spaces into urban environments, showcasing how personal aspirations can drive significant environmental changes.
Bryant and Yee weren't alone in their dream to turn the garage into a green roof, a vegetative layer grown on a rooftop. Commonly referred to as a 'living roof,' green roofs are commonplace in Germany and celebrated for their environmental and financial benefits. But on this side of the pond, the practice has barely scratched the surface, highlighting the slow adoption of sustainable practices in the U.S.
First, they had to make sure the garage was strong enough structurally. Straddling her property and the neighbor's, the garage wasn't entirely owned by Bryant, who negotiated with the neighbors to craft an agreement in which she would pay to rebuild the garage, which would be necessary to support the weight of the roof deck and garden.
Next, she had to get approval from the city of Cambridge and the zoning board, which wanted to make sure the roof deck wouldn't become a party space. She ultimately received approval. This underscores the bureaucratic challenges faced by individuals aiming to green their spaces in urban settings.
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