Shade trees and wide sidewalks make walking pleasant (South Lake Ave, Pasadena)

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Designate certain areas of the city (those with suitable density and proximity to public transit) as official "walkable urban neighborhoods" or "Urban Walking Zones", in which all personal autos are subordinate to pedestrians and cyclists. In these zones, sidewalks will be widened, streetscape & landscape will be given special attention in order to make a pleasant walking experience, and zoning and regulation will be loosened to encourage residential & commercial density. Walk signals should maximize pedestrian safety and convenience.
These designated walking zones will improve the pedestrian experience; more importantly, they will trigger a shift in public perception of what a city "should be". The zones will challenge the assumptions and spark the imaginations of developers, residents, and the voting public.
See link below ("The Next Real Estate Boom") for article about changing demand & demographics.
"...demand for standard-issue suburban housing is going down, not up..."
"...by 2025, 22 million unwanted large-lot suburban homes..."
"...the Great Recession has highlighted a fundamental change in what consumers do want: homes in central cities and closer-in suburbs where one can walk to stores and mass transit."