The Prospect neighborhood of Longmont, Colorado, is in many ways the embodiment of the modern American dream. On warm days, you can see kids out on their scooters and skateboards, enjoying the low-traffic streets. Perfectly manicured yards flaunt the low-water native species landscaping that the city encourages to replace turf. A playground and a dog park sit next to a public square for outdoor concerts, replete with space for food trucks to pull up.
Zoned as a mixed-use district, the neighborhood has a block-long commercial strip with often-empty glass storefronts. There’s no signage to advertise its boutique shops and restaurants to people outside the community, so it’s mostly residents who take to the broad sidewalks, enjoying the calm atmosphere as they walk to Pilates class or grab a baguette from the European bakery before strolling over to their self-owned real estate agency or accountancy.
