As a counterpoint, I think that it is possible to have Wal-Mart, privacy, consistency, etc. without the isolating effects of sprawl. For example, imagine if sto

As a counterpoint, I think that it is possible to have Wal-Mart, privacy, consistency, etc. without the isolating effects of sprawl. For example, imagine if stores were forced to internalize the true environmental and traffic costs of large outdoor parking lots, such that they could only build parking on top of their stores. Imagine a park the size of an average shopping center lot -- it's huge! Or imagine houses there. Tokyo is about as close as any city comes to accomplishing this. Aesthetics aren't the greatest, but communities, local businesses, etc. seem much stronger than in some other large cities. It's worth noting that Tokyo's population density is actually lower than New York's.