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Brad Weed's avatar

Thanks for sharing, Ravi. Yes, I can see where fences could further emphasis the 'this is MINE, that is YOURS' mentality. I suppose doggies are a big reason people put up fences, but even dogs are sometimes purchased to keep people away!

I think corner stores and small cafes, bakeries, and coffee shops would go a long way toward bringing people out of their houses. But, unfortunately, they require more density than what single family homes can provide to be financially viable and it would require unpopular zoning changes. (though, if people are ok with Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) they should be ok with Commercial Dwelling Units (CDUs) like selling cider, muffins, donuts, or coffee out of your garage!)

It's also hard to compete with nearby commercial centers cities and planners favor. These concentrated shopping (and thus concentrated revenue sources) attract big names corporations making it hard for neighborhood mom-n-pop shops to compete. But they only perpetuate car addiction.

In other countries it's common to see mini versions of larger grocers tucked in small spaces, but they tend to be surrounded by dense housing (i.e. customers). To achieve this in traditional American suburbia, I advocate for more duplexes, triplexes, townhouses, and small apartment complexes intermixed with single family homes. It would create the needed density to attract shops without zoning for massive developments. But until developers find them profitable OR cities require them to be built (which most city councils oppose) we're stuck. Oh, and our screen addictions don't help!

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