The Rowhouse Returns

There seems to be some confusion in the U.S as to the definition of a "row house." From my time living abroad, I have always thought that the main difference between condos, townhouses and row houses is the private ownership of a small parcel of land immediately to the rear of the property and usually separated by a fence. This is very standard in Great Britain and in other European countries and is the reason row houses over there are occupied by couples with children and not just empty nesters and childless professionals. In addition to the small private piece of land abutting the rear of the row house, no condo or townhouse fees need to be paid in a true row house. As a married parent of one, my wife and I looked desperately for a "real" row house with this privately owned piece of land because our toddler needs a *small* fenced in place to run around when we cannot make it to playground (and a small patch for a few vegetables). All we could find were condos and townhouse with exorbitant condo fees and "common" land that could not be fenced in. In the end we settled on a single family. In Great Britain when only two units are connected, with said private parcels of land, they are called semi-detached houses, providing privacy for the owner and more efficient (i.e. compact) land use. In a country that values private land ownership so highly and where housing costs for young couples with children even now remains high (at least in the North East-where we are leaving in droves for cheaper states), I am surprised that the type of row-house I am describing has not taken hold - or indeed does not appear to be on anyone's radar at all!