To mark 100 years of modern zoning policies, SPUR asked historians, planners, policy makers, and other experts to share their perspectives on the

. Douglas Burnham's contribution, "A Proxy for Permanence," argues for a more flexible zoning, one that allows for experimentation with temporary uses, with the goal of fostering a deeper understanding of a community's needs. He writes: "If blocks, neighborhoods or districts agree on what is important for their residents and businesses — temporary housing, job training, health initiatives, community cohesion, vibrancy — could the code allow for these (perhaps radical or innovative) uses be tested for short defined time periods?"

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