mctenement anyone?

Terrific article in The Atlantic this month.  "The Next Slum" examines how cul de sac suburbs across the country are facing a pretty unexpected but well-deserved set of issues.  From the 50's through the 80's, suburban residential development was all about the backyard - not the front patio.  Sidewalks gave way to rolled curbs and sprawling yards.  Walking gave way to driving.  Engagement gave way to complacency.

Today, property values in those once idealistic communities are falling while more "urban" communities in those same locations have been seeing value increases.  While the outcome surprises many residents, the reasons aren't too surprising.  The communal environment in those neighborhoods simply isn't compelling.  

These were really just latter-day communes.  People just like you raising children just like yours in houses just like yours.  But the houses turned their backs on each other and put up fences.  We didn't engage with our neighbors.  While turning our backs on each other, we also turned our backs on ourselves.