Adrian Tinniswood weaves a fascinating tale about the Great Fire of London's impact on urban planning in the city.
"It is in discussing the Fire's consequences for London's urban planning that Tinniswood (whose background is in architectural history) comes into its own. The Fire created a tabula rasa for urban design that provided an unparalleled opportunity for architects and town planners, and the book offers a fascinating survey of the various Londons that might have been. These range from the Richard Newcourt's grid-pattern scheme for 55 uniform blocks, a sort of Manhattan-on-Thames; to John Evelyn's for a city with "open piazzas"; and Christopher Wren's magnificent scheme for a series a broad triumphal avenues and axial vistas connecting the City's major public buildings (in the manner of 17th-century Rome) - the solution approved by both Charles II and his Privy Council."
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Plucked from the flames

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train
The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont