In recent years, the concept of the “15-minute city” has captured imaginations, offering an idealized vision of urban convenience where everything you need—work, services, leisure, and social activities—is just a short walk or bike ride away. It’s a model that champions hyper-local living, reducing the reliance on cars, and encouraging sustainable, community-driven lifestyles. For many urban planners and residents alike, this concept presents an enticing framework for neighborhoods. But as promising as the 15-minute city may seem, it often falls short when applied to larger, more complex, and economically diverse cities.
This article, co-authored by our own Streetsense Managing Director Larisa Ortiz, together with Rachel Meltzer of Harvard’s Graduate School of Design (GSD), makes a different, but no less compelling argument. They assert that while the 15-minute city model has its merits, it isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution for urban development. Not every neighborhood can—nor should—be expected to host a full spectrum of specialized services or industries. In fact, relying too heavily on localized planning deprives customers and businesses of access to the broader resources, job opportunities, and cultural experiences necessary for economic growth.
At Streetsense, we believe that accessibility in all its forms is the true linchpin of both economic vibrancy and livable communities. In large cities, this often means a robust public transit system that can connect residents to jobs, services, and cultural experiences beyond their immediate neighborhood. Public transit not only encourages the clustering of specialized businesses but also ensures that these businesses can thrive by drawing customers and employees from a wide geographic area.
While the 15-minute city model provides an inspiring blueprint for creating more sustainable and community-oriented neighborhoods, it shouldn’t come at the cost of wider accessibility. A balanced approach is necessary—one that integrates the strengths of localized living with the vital role that public transit and broader urban connectivity play in driving economic growth. As Larisa Ortiz and Rachel Meltzer highlight in their article, neighborhoods should not exist in isolation but as part of a larger, interdependent urban fabric.
To read more about their insights and explore their recommendations for urban planning in economically diverse cities, check out The 45-Minute City featured in Vital City.
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