Drought could lead to problems for Beacon Hill, Back Bay homes

I believe the plans detailing the piling locations for many houses were lost in a fire a long time ago as well. The height of the pilings isn't uniform - in fact it can change substantially between adjacent buildings, which makes monitoring rot and installing steel supports for rotted piers so expensive since each individual location would have to be surveyed and ID'ed before securing the structure can happen. I think newer buildings (maybe over a certain square footage) on made land are required to have water recharge systems to replenish groundwater levels as so much water is lost/diverted by impervious surfaces.

Wood pilings are one of the reasons I'm glad I moved out of a South End townhouse several years ago. That and earthquakes and the lack of modern fire safety systems. Low probability; high severity.

I seem to remember houses and other buildings were sinking because they were on pilings and lacked foundations or something of that sort. Talking 1980s here.

All of those neighborhoods are largely built on filled land, and feature similar architecture.