I invite you to travel to Europe and visit the older, vibrant, high density cities you find there. Then compare them to Phoenix or Los Angeles. Ask yourself where you would rather live. 

I agree with other commenters and the author of the article that what is lacking is the middle density housing necessary to accommodate families. I would not want to live in a shoebox condominium. But continuing to gobble up arable land for low-density housing will just generate more traffic congestion.