Massachusetts is doing that. Every outlying town is now required to select an area where they will now zone for denser housing with offices and shops. If they don't, Beacon Hill (the state government) will select it for them.

It's still not going to be completely European (the early American settlers built streets wide for fear of fire, and because they really, really liked being able to do U-turns with horse carts,) but American 1890's style is well worth cherishing on its own merits.