Earlier quoted context omitted.
In this case, these friends are not farther than in usual case of a low-density suburban. You will have to drive, but not longer than if you lived in a single family house, as the building + park in the proposal above takes about the same space as 1000 single-family houses. So, it makes the friends more accessible, if they are in the same neighborhood, and not less accessible otherwise. Also, living in the same build…
Yeah, I wasn't comparing it to suburban living but just to normal residential areas in most European cities that comprise of lots of 4-6 story buildings (and some higher) with public parks around them, but rarely a huge pi*1km^2 lawn.
European cities are ok too, as long as buildings don't have a fenced territory.