Despite an official "embargo" of the practice, there are reports of people removing "truckloads of architectural elements" from New Orleans every day. Preservationists fear that what isn't stolen will end up in landfills.
"Historic preservationists and salvage workers are now fighting to keep thousands of tons of building materials from being heaped onto landfills, stolen, or otherwise lost. At stake are period doors and trim, floor-to-ceiling shutters that covered countless shotgun-house windows, wood trim, hardware, plumbing, light fixtures, and other materials."
"Since it is unclear whether forthcoming legislation will address architectural salvage, it appears most residents are taking the issue into their own hands. Rather than wait for guidelines to protect structures and their elements, some residents are actively pursuing preservation before their homes are gutted, demolished or picked apart by thieves."
While a New Orleans police spokesman said no arrests have been made for theft of architectural materials, others note that catching such criminals is a low priority for a department with more pressing concerns.
FULL STORY: With Demolitions, Architectural Remnants at Risk in New Orleans

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.

Adaptive Reuse Will Create Housing in a Suburban Texas Strip Mall
A developer is reimagining a strip mall property as a mixed-use complex with housing and retail.

Study: Anti-Homelessness Laws Don’t Work
Research shows that punitive measures that criminalized unhoused people don’t help reduce homelessness.

In U.S., Urban Gondolas Face Uphill Battle
Cities in Latin America and Europe have embraced aerial transitways — AKA gondolas — as sustainable, convenient urban transport, especially in tricky geographies. American cities have yet to catch up.
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