We appear to be cross-posting, so here is an answer to your edits.
For your custom shopping hood, I don't have any experience with those. I would assume that if the hood you downloaded has townies in it (like Bluewater Village has Malcom Landgraab and Florence Delarosa), then they would be added along with the subhood.
I don't add shopping districts very often, but I THINK that I can still add them if I'm willing to make my own from scratch, just like I can add a custom Uni or a custom downtown, both of which I do often. I will have to fire up my game an confirm this, though. Let me get back to you a bit later today? (It's still 3 pm on Sunday 6/14 where I am, so please adjust the timeframe slightly if it's near midnight where you are.)
Re: Blank templates
For your custom shopping hood, I don't have any experience with those. I would assume that if the hood you downloaded has townies in it (like Bluewater Village has Malcom Landgraab and Florence Delarosa), then they would be added along with the subhood.
I don't add shopping districts very often, but I THINK that I can still add them if I'm willing to make my own from scratch, just like I can add a custom Uni or a custom downtown, both of which I do often. I will have to fire up my game an confirm this, though. Let me get back to you a bit later today? (It's still 3 pm on Sunday 6/14 where I am, so please adjust the timeframe slightly if it's near midnight where you are.)