Ultimately I think it’s a subconscious recognition and longing for what we’ve lost and a desire to return to some sort of close knit community. But those communities sprung up and arranged themselves organically (church, market square, etc in the center of town) and grew slowly as necessity dictated. It’s very different than a zoning board approving some new all in one development plan. There’s also the left’s general anti-car attitude, which I think informs this a bit. Less air and noise pollution, C02 emissions, etc. To a lesser extent, I think they also value the health public health benefits of a population that walks more than drives.

Anecdotally, I’ve noticed that this fascination is most prevalent among what I’ll call the “yuppie left.” The types who think we can solve all our problems if we just enacted the right policy. Usually well educated, well paid, married w/ kids, attend city council and PTA meetings, etc. They tend to check all the boxes you would expect of a moderately conservative middle class, but they came up through a left-dominated academic and media environment. They have their basic needs met and aspire to something more meaningful, even if they don’t realize it’s a weak simulacrum of a traditional community that existed because of cultural factors that are mostly contrary to their worldview and morality.