Butforanynew-stylehighstreettoworkrequiresgoodtowncentreplanningandthecornerstoneofthisiscommonsense.Mostofuswantplacesthatgiveuseverythingweneedtofulfilourlives.Giveusatowncentrewherewecanliveinanaffordablehome,walk,cycleortakeeasypublictransporttoemployment,beabletogotothecinema,theatre,gallery,nightcluborgig,kickaballinaparkwithourmatesorourkids,readabookunderamagnoliatree,maybegrowabitofvegonanallotment,watchabitofsport,whileawaythetimeatacafeorabar,shopatcoolindependentstores.Wehavetodevelopplacesthatpeoplewanttoseeandbeseenin.Mostofuslovepeoplewatching,getabuzzfromotherhumanbeings.Idon'tbelievewewanttodomostofourshoppingonline,especiallyaswearespendingmoreandmoreofourworkinglivesinfrontofascreen.
Vancouverisacitythathasgotitright.Itboastsawonderfulnaturalsettingbutitdoesn'trelyonitsnaturalbeautyforliveability.Itscommitmenttothe"greenagenda"andtheserendipityofbeingabletofindindependentcafes,second-handvinylrecordstoresandvintageclothesstoresrightnexttothebigbrandsgivesthecityanambienceBritishcitieshavelosttothelandvaluegreedexertedbypension-fundlandlordsandshort-sightedcouncils.