15-minute Cities: Convenience Not Conspiracy

KeyNotes article submitted by:

Andy Yan, Vancouver Chapter

Andy Yan is the director of the City Program at Simon Fraser University.  Andy holds a master of urban planning from the University of California – Los Angeles.  He is a registered professional planner with the Canadian Institute of Planners, a Certified Geographic Information Systems Professional, and has been inducted into the Vancouver Chapter of LAI. 


 

‘15-minute neighbourhoods’ evaluated the presence of (or prospects for) 15-minute neighbourhoods within the City of Vancouver, Canada, alongside a brief examination of the Metro Vancouver Region.  While there are many components that together form the basis for a 15-minute city the study focused on the changing role retail uses play in neighborhoods.  

The report Co-Authored by Lewis Silberberg (LAI), Justin Barer, and Andy Yan (LAI) and funded through a Research Grant from the Vancouver Chapter:

  • Summarizes the concept and core components of the 15-minute city based upon recently published literature;
  • Reviews the ‘retail commerce’ component of the 15-minute city / neighbourhood;
  • Unpacks how the retail element of the 15-minute neighbourhood can be provided, and the core components that drive its success;
  • Applies established evaluation criteria to available data sets from the City of Vancouver and for the broader Metro Vancouver region to identify the presence (or deficiencies) of 15-minute neighbourhoods as seen through a retail lens;
  • Outlines key takeaways including how retail involves a grouping of different business categories which vary in their role delivering essential services. Factors such as accessibility, walkability, density, and design contribute to 15-minute neighbourhoods.
  • Raises questions of how to create 15-minute neighbourhoods in automobile-oriented suburban communities outside the City of Vancouver is a greater challenge as they do not have the benefit of a physical and policy legacy of being a streetcar city.

KeyNotes

KeyNotes is the online publication of Lambda Alpha International and contains articles written by the members, chronicles chapter activities and successes, and celebrates member awards and accomplishments. Posts are distributed to the global membership and published within LAI’s social-media network. KeyNotes are submitted by LAI members. Many submissions reflect the author’s professional opinions and views on relevant issues concerning the organizational mission and purpose of LAI. LAI, as an organization, does not take a position on KeyNote submissions, and supports providing an open forum of ideas forwarded for thoughtful consideration. Submissions should not be construed as LAI endorsements.” Check out the latest articles today!

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