The Wall Street Journal Mansion section is always a good weekend read.  This week it describes a number of new developments that go all-in towards recreating "the essence of quaint small towns" that "recreate village life".  It makes one wonder why people who already have quaint walkable neighborhoods want to screw them up with high-density housing, modern office buildings and big parking structures?

In a shift away from gated golf course communities, with their cul de sacs of Tuscan villas and Normandy castles (ed: what part of B'game does that remind you of?), these ungated developments are designed to create a strong sense of place, with neighbors, a coffee shop and the town dentist within walking distance.  Picture Andy Griffith's Mayberry with high-speed internet."

And no rent control.  A president of one of the architectural firms involved says "We are trying to bring back the DNA of towns and small cities that has been lost–in some ways it's storytelling."  What story will we be telling 20 or 30 years from now?  Will it be one of sadness as we look at the cookie-cutter James Chu designed houses sprinkled among the original bungalows, Eichlers, and Tudors of Olde Burlingame?  Will we look at the Avenue and wonder how we messed up?  I hope not.  Here are two stories being written now:  one bad, one very hopefully to be good.