Design | Theory

The Dream of the 15 Minute City

What is community resilience when you can barely get by?

A slightly complicated street intersection at night. Photo by author, © Dawn Nelson.

What is the relevance of a walkable city as rents soar? At what point is it too much to pay for, to be able to walk wherever you need to go?

I remember living so close to the downtown area when I first moved to this city that I could walk to the boutique grocery. I could choose from three small grocers, in fact. Several bakeries. And the open air farm market twice a week.

This was the honeymoon period when I could afford to live in a downtown city neighborhood, lovingly known as Water Hill.

The fifteen minute walkable city is a nice idea. Ideally, folks live and work within a small radius and can divest from fossil fueled transit modes.

But increasingly, it is difficult to live in and access cities at all, let alone live a hyperlocal lifestyle.

So where does this leave sustainability and resilience?

I live in a city where leaders make bold claims about climate resilience. Yet, while there are plans for an inclusive resilient future, effective outcomes remain to be seen. It is still a city accessible only to those who can afford high rents or pricey home purchases.