[flowingfocus]

> The neighborhood cafe where locals can stop by at any time and see other locals

This is still the norm in some places. When I was cycling through the Balkans, I was surprised how many people sit in public spaces, usually close to a kiosk, and play cards, throw dice, or just chatter

[jajko]

Whole southern Europe is like that (sitting now in a small trattorria in Liguria province in Italy, I see this everywhere, and ie Spain, Portugal or Greece is same).

The problem mostly arises in big cities where a lot of young move for work, I'd call those socially sterile places.

[nothercastle]

Real estate is too expensive in the USA. To stay profitable you need to turn customers around quickly

[seb1204]

But not on a park bench or park area with tables?

[_DeadFred_]

In the US homeless people might sit on park benches and be seen so benches are sloped to be uncomfortable for more than short periods. Benches are intended as a temporary rest for those that need it as they walk, not a place to just sit and chill.

My area's solution is we don't have parks, we have public land trusts that are actually private property and can ban people. They're pretty nice for those of us allowed.

[nothercastle]

In the USA people would graffiti the benches pee on the seats and a homeless person would move in. Almost no protection exists to prevent destruction of public property. I think that’s intentional to discourage people from embracing socialism.

[sfmz]

Modern benches and even parks have anti-homeless features. iirc some park in Minneapolis removed their basketball courts because black people would congregate there (also there was drug-dealing). In USA its spend money or get out.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostile_architecture