Extinguished by renovations, regulations, and rust, the old metal fire escape veers towards obsolescence.
The once-ubiquitous exterior fire escapes that have adorned many urban buildings since the early 20th century -- an "elevated porch" valued for social as well as safety benefits -- is becoming an endangered species.
In American culture, the fire escape was even an essential supporting character in classic movies like "Rear Window" and "West Side Story." Yet, as newer and rehabbed buildings have more effective, interior fireproof escape corridors, the old landing-and-ladder system is on its way out.
FULL STORY: The vanishing escape
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Placer County
Mayors' Institute on City Design
City of Sunnyvale
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), the Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP)
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
City of Portland, ME
Baton Rouge Area Foundation