I assume you live in a city. If everyone else before you in your city had thought the same way and blocked development it's very likely you'd have never lived w

I assume you live in a city. If everyone else before you in your city had thought the same way and blocked development it's very likely you'd have never lived where you are right now, and the culture you are trying to keep would have never even formed. If your city is attractive enough it will eventually be developed further, instead of fighting completely against an inevitable change it'd be good to help shape how such developments can happen in a way that won't completely erode what you like about what you and your neighbours fostered. It's a much more creative endeavour than attempting to stop the winds of change, those won't stop blowing, work with it.