One possible frame though which to consider the ongoing evolution of cities like San Francisco: the measures (sometimes) taken to preserve the historic fabric of the city.
A proposed development of a 12-story glass tower on Pine Street in San Francisco has not prompted significant opposition from neighbors, but it has provoked its own kind of controversy, according to an article on Socket City.
The current plan for the site is to "raze the existing garage on the site, a building that’s been deemed to be associated with 'the temporary commercial reconstruction in the aftermath of the 1906 Earthquake and Fire' and San Francisco’s historic Auto Row." Because of that historic lineage, however, "the Historic Preservation Commission would like the existing façade of the 1545 Pine Street building to be preserved and incorporated into the new development, 'to maintain the historic character of the block.'"
The HPC's recommendation for what's known as a facadectomy complicates the nature of historic preservation—and despite the neighborhood opposition, this particular iteration has inspired plenty of commentary on the Socket Site comment board. The larger concept of facadism, however, has long provided a schema for debate about the value of historic preservation, exemplified by an article by Paul Goldberger about a similar situation in 1985.
FULL STORY: A False Sense Of Preservation In SF?

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.

Half of Post-Fire Altadena Home Sales Were to Corporations
Large investors are quietly buying up dozens of properties in Altadena, California, where a devastating wildfire destroyed more than 6,000 homes in January.

Opinion: What San Francisco’s Proposed ‘Family Zoning’ Could Really Mean
Mayor Lurie is using ‘family zoning’ to encourage denser development and upzoning — but could the concept actually foster community and more human-scale public spaces?

Jacksonville Launches First Autonomous Transit Shuttle in US
A fleet of 14 fully autonomous vehicles will serve a 3.5-mile downtown Jacksonville route with 12 stops.
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Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
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City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
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