He had no family connection, no neighborhood network.

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If you sign up for the site and find a neighborhood network doesn't yet exist for your address, you can start one, but this means you'll be the lead, or head organizer of the network.

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Though I'm skeptical of joining yet another social network, Nextdoor's neighborhood-based approach made it a standout network with real value.

WSJ: Nextdoor Review: Social Network Brings Neighbors Together

"If you're always doing the hosting, houseguests can become a money pit, " says Sellery, who hosts the Oprah Winfrey Network show Million Dollar Neighborhood, which challenges whole communities to increase their net worth.

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At a recent business conference, I listened to Barbara Pantuso, who is the co-founder and CEO of Hey Neighbor, talk about how her site allows users to create a social network from only those in their neighborhood.

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The Starbucks Digital Network in Starbucks stores will feature the Square directory so customers can discover neighborhood businesses near their favorite Starbucks store.

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However, the cable infrastructure is a shared network, which means that each user's connection is merged into a neighborhood-wide pipeline before being linked to the Internet.

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Alexandria has had a wireless network up and running since April that covers an eight-block zone in its Old Town neighborhood, a heavily pedestrian area filled with shops and restaurants.

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