Members' 25-Year Reminiscences

Eugene Burr, AICP

Knoxville, Tennessee, to Key West, Florida, to Memphis, Tennessee

My decision to study planning was a good one, in retrospect. It was precipitated by a summer work experience in Dusseldorf, Germany, in 1957 with a German architectural/planning firm that doubled as a memorable honeymoon for Rosemary and me. That experience was the most profound influence on my professional career! Architecture merged with urban planning in large, complex downtown redevelopment and new community projects — mending the fabric of war-torn Germany. That was the way, I concluded, to practice architecture and planning, as a merged discipline!

After finishing my architectural studies at Auburn, I lived in Corinth, Mississippi; Asheville, North Carolina; and Huntsville, Alabama, gaining experience toward licensure and learning how critical context is to solving any problem. My attitude toward the history of architecture and the building of cities was changed from an academic exercise to one of appreciating history as part of a continuum. That led me to dedicate my time and energy to the preservation and enhancement of our historic communities.

It took 10 years to get back to school to get my planning degree at the University of Tennessee, but it was the right time for me. I worked with TVA's "Townlift" program to finance grad school and support my growing family, enjoyed a brief post-grad stint at the University of Manchester, and joined the Knoxville–Knox County Metro Planning Commission staff, where I learned about local planning firsthand. In 1974, I started my own practice in a handsome 1890 Richardsonian warehouse in downtown Knoxville, where I spent 16 wonderful years restoring courthouses and historic homes, and an occasional new project — parks and buildings, that I hoped made sense in their context — some 250 projects in all.

In 1990, I took a fork in the road. My love of the ocean, from childhood years on the Carolina coast, combined with an opportunity to become the first historic preservation planner for the City of Key West, was compelling. For five years, I rode my bike to work, sailed when I wanted, and developed a respected design review process for one of the largest wood historic districts in the country. But, you can't stay in "paradise" forever!

I returned to Tennessee in 1996, and was hired to manage the conversion of a 642-acre Army supply depot in Memphis to a modern business park (which includes a 20-building complex of Art Deco warehouses eligible for the National Register). My three brothers live in Memphis with their families and I have enjoyed being part of their lives for eight years, but this year I'm wrapping up the redevelopment of the depot and returning to Knoxville — and to my lovely and understanding (psychologist) wife of 47 years! I will continue to explore the world of design — both natural and built — with my friends and family, most notably my wife, son Corbin, and daughter Bettina and her wonderful family.