Tuesday is the 200th Anniversary of the Manhattan Street Grid

(Andrea Bernstein, Transportation Nation) Hats off to the New York Times' Sam Roberts for bringing our attention to the 200th anniversary of the Manhattan Street grid. In 1811, Roberts writes, Manhattan only went as far as Houston Street (then called North Street) -- above that was scattered farmland. But in an audacious move, city planners mapped a plan that would level hills, straighten streets, and plow through property.

They created a burgeoning metropolis, set up the walkable Manhattan we know it today, and powered the real estate industry.

The plan was greeted, literally, with cabbages and artichokes. Resonant?

Full article here.

And listen here to NYU professor Hilary Ballon speak with WNYC at about 7:30 Tuesday morning on what this 200-year old plan means for life today.