What is a city/town that you'd hear negativity about but then you went and it wasn't actually that bad?

Yeah online shopping has changed retail habits without a doubt. Someone did a post the other day with their thoughts on how town/city centre planners can (and should) be rethinking services. It was something like:- start by pedestrianising the main areas. conversion of unused buildings into comfortable and affordable apartments, investment in libraries and other civic buildings to be also venues for workshops, social clubs, adult learning spaces, (things in evenings and weekends as well as in the daytime), having services such as physio, podiatry, opticians and dentists in the centre (services you can’t get online that sometimes can be less conveniently located), providing facilities and fun activity spaces for kids of all ages (including teenagers)- some indoor, some outdoor, maybe a few escape rooms or rage rooms for older children? providing pleasant green areas where people can enjoy nature and have picnics etc. without traffic issues. obviously cafes, bars and restaurants. Theatres and open spaces for affordable live performances and art exhibitions. Investment into local artists and performers, perhaps from showcasing talent from local colleges etc. perhaps have a large statement piece of sculpture commissioned to display prominently which will come to be associated with the place and give it unique character. None of this is the product retail that has previously defined our town centres, but as you can see, there are lots of ways to draw people in and provide useful services and entertainment. Towns and cities organised thus would be thriving. Instead we lament shops closing down and don’t consider how things might actually change for the better with a little thought. Of course people will buy online if they’re offered more choice, it’s cheaper, and more convenient. But accepting this fact doesn’t mean we also need to accept towns will only have bookies, vapes and chazzer shops forevermore 🙄😆