There is a systemic disconnect in how communities develop. Even while Jane Jacobs was prophetically calling for consideration of the social ramifications of physical development, both planners, architects, engineers, and politians were silo'ed in to thier theoretical and and textbook practices. What was missing? Why couldn't folks see the ramifications of their decisions on the human eco-system? The obvious answer (at least for states and cities in the west) was the fact that many and most decisions were (like today) based upon the accomodation of the single occupancy automobile and the suburban single family residence. So, while many cultures and countries have spent generations upon generations creating dense human-centric villages, neighborhoods, barrios, and cities, we in the west have only begun wresting ourselves from prioritizing the automobile in community development. What many of our communities lack, as well, is the notion of "soul." What "soul" is there in a strip mall? The main street of the past was not only a place of commerce, but also a community gathering place, and a communties heart beat. With the shops, you also had churches, community centers, and civic and government establishments. If ever there was a time that America needed to find soul in our communities, that time is now!