There's a dearth of small scale retail space available in most N.A. cities.

Humans are wired to like cozy, fine-grained urbanism, like these cafes in Japan. It feels good, AND it makes financial sense. Many small business, can't afford super sized retail bays.

More of this >
More.
Things you can advocate for in your local municipality that will help open the door for better city building:

✅ eliminate min. parking req.
✅ end single family only zoning
✅ permit ADUs & ACUs (accessory commercial units)
✅ support higher density development - sprawl is $$
This post sparked a lot of good conversation. Thanks everyone!

One thing that came up was the lack of accessibility of these cafes.

It’s imperative that we design cities that are safe & navigable for all folks regardless of age or ability. Universal design is a must.
As a planner who has experienced chronic illness & loss of mobility, I think about this often.

I do believe we can achieve something that’s just as cozy & aesthetically pleasing as these shops in North America where we have the space to ensure everyone is welcome.
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