In the vast majority of Chicago, buildings are generally no more than 4 stories tall. Usually just 2 or 3. And yet when I lived there, I found it to be infini

In the vast majority of Chicago, buildings are generally no more than 4 stories tall. Usually just 2 or 3. And yet when I lived there, I found it to be infinitely livable and walkable. The trick is strong community areas. Chicago reached its current level of density 100 years ago, when walking was a common mode of transportation. So the city naturally organized such that every neighborhood has its own "downtown" area, and every residence is within walking distance of such an area. The primary function of the bus and trains system is to move people among these community areas. For example, I worked downtown in the Loop, so I took the train. But grocery shopping, going to the library, post office, hardware store, etc. were all easily done on foot. All this in an area where everyone lived in beautiful, historic 2-3 floor buildings. And no, we weren't rich. It was largely a blue collar immigrant neighborhood.