The social experience within a cul-de-sac is deliberately individualistic. The Cul-De-Sac is meant to separate the haves from the have not’s. There is an inherent level of embedded competition within neighbors. Without the presence of a neutral social space, there is no place for people to get to know their neighbors and escape the confines of home and work.
This is where Ray Oldenburg’s “third place” concept is most useful. In American life, the mall can act as a third place, but mall’s popularity and use is declining, and people are looking for outdoor spaces to congregate due to newfound health concerns. Additionally, people are increasingly concerned by dire environmental conditions and we, as a society, are beginning to distance ourselves from the automobile.
