Suburbs in the UK are hell, so America's love of "single-family zoning" never made sense to me.

The beautiful homes in Portland make me understand why people here are attached to single-family zoned neighbourhoods, and why street votes on local zoning rules are so crucial.

I can see why lots of people will oppose moves to get rid of single-family zoning altogether. People should be able to opt in to places with those kinds of rules, provided they bear the cost. Street votes give people that choice in a way blanket abolition does not.

A few more houses (not my photos) around Portland. All of these are about a thirty minute walk from downtown, and cost about the same as a two-bed flat in Camberwell.