The zones that we have gotten lately are very big and empty with a lot of fake houses and the lots that are usable are often very far apart from each other. Sims spawn at the end of the map and walk to the other side which makes the world seem so deserted.
I like the smaller zones better like the Spice Market in San Myshuno where sims spawn and walk into the middle area and often gather around there and then the sims do different things like visit the market stalls, play basketball, watch musicians or watch the artwork. The place feels alive.
If they are only gonna have three lots in each neighborhood then at least put them closer together and make the zones smaller with less fake houses and have more sims spawn and gather somewhere. They are spawning and gathering around the voting board but that is so far away from some of the houses.