> Maybe it is also in your best interests if the street is modified to accommodate modern use cases.

At least in the UK, in a lot of cases that's just not feasible. Take the image I posted above for instance: http://c8.alamy.com/comp/DXHF2G/terraced-street-in-hillsboro...

The only ways to widen the road would be A) prohibit parking -> now residents have nowhere to park, or B) start demolishing houses.