A lot of the "Ghost Town" effect is due to people not putting in effort or having incentive to get to know their neighbors. If this is the route they want to go then we need more of a reason to host events and be a community.

People talk about how a FC not having a house excludes them from content, I say ADD content like that for people who choose to live in neighborhoods. It would provide more enjoyment for those who would like interactions like that. Those who don't could enjoy their secluded island.