[kenesom1]

Sadly the housing situation in most metropolitan areas is an assault on all the senses. Housing right next to highways, no sound insulation between units, damp buildings infested with mold, inadequate ventilation, overflowing trash bins.

A lot of it is down to the short-term objectives of most property development projects, management companies who are unwilling to properly maintain buildings, and shoddy building standards in the US - flimsy materials, stick-built buildings instead of concrete, etc. The housing stock is in terrible shape and current policy encourages the development of disposable buildings that are barely livable.

Poor noise control in building designs results in:

Everyone's Upstairs Neighbors - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IRB0sxw-YU