Plenty of people are suggesting massive restructurings of residential areas in major cities.
> Simply adding a few 4-5 floor apartments buildings with retail at the bottom would greatly improve quality of life in neighborhoods.
You're conceding that even your smaller apartment buildings will change the character of the neighborhood. You think it will improve quality of life for some, but they think it will do the opposite for them.
And when you create these apartments you've concentrated a large piece of land under a single owner, who can then after a regulation change eventually build one of those massive apartment buildings. But it doesn't necessarily need to be that massive to have a negative impact on the neighborhood.
I am sorry but the price you paid for your house / apt was too little to justify this behavior.
As a property owner, I don't care what you feel is just. I worked hard, saved money and invested wisely. We've been in a bull market for over 10 years now, if you want change then put some money down and start doing something about. All the internet points in the world won't win you a high rise apartment
Other people's property that happens to be near you is not your property.