Among more obvious geopolitical and environmental threats, the threat of civic and cultural degradation may be just as important, if much less obvious. But the answer may be around the corner - literally - in how we shape our neighborhoods and streets. NOTE: This article is part of a series of discussion posts leading up to the 62nd International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) conference in Potsdam, Germany, 15-19 October, 2025.POTSDAM - Recent research literature has been full of cautionary find