I don't want to step on anyone's toes, but I would like to see new towns built as opposed to new developments. Right here in Alexandria, we see a glaring example in Kingstowne off Van Dorn Street. Across the street from a shopping plaza (bix box stores in the strip mall variety- not attractive but useful) is a new subdivision development of townhouses. But the residents have to get in their cars to cross the street to go to TJ Maxx or Walmart. You are taking your life in your hands by attempting to cross the heavy traffic to get to the stores. It's innane.
Also, the majority of these subdivisions are built with no sidewalks in them. That paired with all traffic being vehicular, it is a daunting task to take your baby out for a stroll in the carriage.
I don't know why people are threatened by smart growth. The market is 98% geared to people like them and 2% geared to people like us. Personally, I live in a 100-year-old 2-family house in the most densely populated city in New England and I love it.
I grew up in exurban New Jersey where property rights were fully respected. Developers did very well, they moved on after they built, the rest of us were stuck with their vision of life because all players in the market went with the shortest-sighted, highest-paying model of development. The driving age in NJ is 17 which meant my parents had to drive me everywhere I wanted to go to not sit on my ass in front of the t.v. We had 1/3 of an acre which was good for playing in the backyard but me and my friends took our lives in our hands if we tried to get to each other's homes by bicycle.
A little common sense and market diversity is hardly the second coming of Stalin.