Front porches fell out of favour in the 70s-80s but I'd say they're pretty common nowadays. Ex
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Sometimes garages don't leave enough space for porches, but they can still function in a similar manner even if they aren't as attractive, ex:
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From the pic it's nice to see the porches return, but some too small to be really useful for sitting, no more than just entrance porticos. Yes, the streetscape of garage doors is not particularly appealing. With every house having at least a single garage, on the typical smaller subdivision lots, they tend to dominate with some interior elements of the house usually designed in behind them.
The issue of neighbourhood 'cohesiveness' I think rotates on a lot of factors. In the '50s and '60s I grew up in a typical North York subdivision when we roamed until the streetlights came on. Mothers were usually home and it seemed every mother had a hand in raising every kid (or at least ratting them out to their own mother). My dad was raised on a farm but moved to the city as an adult. He talked to and knew everybody; it was just his nature. Today, urban culture seems more insular. In a large apartment or condo, how do people get to know each other except in the elevator or maybe laundry room.
I think first generation families tend to keep to themselves, perhaps out of uncertainly, language, lack of confidence, etc. I find as a broad brush, we tend to be a reserved culture, at least in Ontario. I've travelled in the States on my motorcycle and having total strangers chat me up is not uncommon. Same with the Maritimes.
Our current subdivision is mostly 1-3 acre treed lots with mixture of families and retirees. We are fairly reserved and don't socialize, but people meet and greet walking their dogs (it seems like a bylaw mandate-I think there is one cat), wave to passing vehicles whether we recognize them or not. As I mentioned, we like to sit out front after supper in the summer and watched the world go by. We have one resident who is a bit of an organizer. Pre-Covid we had an annual BYO picnic on the street and he has had a couple of entertainers in his yard ($20-any left over goes to a charity).
I think smaller communities are inherently friendlier, if for no other reason than they are smaller and, in many cases, long-term familiarity and family connections. Having said that, I have bopped around a number of small towns and always been the outsider because I was 'from' there, and had no trouble engaging in the community at a number of levels.
I often think it can start with small acts (or, in our case, that one neighbour who takes the horns). I talk to anyone, it's in my nature. Sometime people look at me like I have two heads. I figure that's their loss.