Linden Alley in front of Blue Bottle Coffee. It's a start

Tenderloin alley transformed

British Columbia

Living Street

Edible landscaping

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The City, with active help from volunteer neighbors and bike/ped supporters would get together and rip up bitumen, replace it with a narrower path of, permeable pavers. Add native plants, gathering areas, community garden plots, bird and bat houses, bee hivies, water features, storm water collection cisterns, bioswales, educational signage, tree canopy, and way-finding signage.
This would be designed by planners in a way that a bulk of the work could be carried out by volunteers. Each path would feature a unique color theme, or learning experience.
Paths would accommodate very slow cars for short distances, for garage access only. Casual-paced cycling, pedestrians, neighborhood bar-b-cues, farmer's markets, outdoor films, would spice up the experience and bring neighbors together.
Build one and soon everyone will want one!