It's bizarre how this article defines "nice" in terms of architecture and walkability. In the US most people care more about crime rates and school quality. If the local school is rated 2/10 and there are drug dealers in the neighborhood park then it doesn't matter how many shops and restaurants are within walking distance.
I suppose it depends on how you define walkability. I think a good walkability metric decreases when you no longer prefer walking — which tends to be the case when the neighborhood park becomes a drug hotspot, per your example.
