Walkability and the 15 Minute City
There has been a lot of buzz about the 15 minute city. Popularized by Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo in 2020 to sail to reelection, and by many mayoral candidates in NY’s 2021 municipal elections, the 15 minute city is a concept where a resident should be able to access most of their needs within a 15 minute walk or bike ride. It is a shift of thinking from a space and density argument to one centered around time and access to services. Larger than neighborhoods but smaller than cities, these are ideal units because of their equitability, public health benefits and ability to make a substantial dent in global climate change. It also fosters a sense of community, creating spaces which locals can commingle and support local businesses, while helping city finances by creating a more resilient tax base. However, it is extremely important that the 15 minute city is walkable.
Walkability is the ability to walk to a destination while feeling safe and comfortable. This is not currently possible in most places due to a mixture of sprawl and auto oriented developments and a perceived high crime levels in other places. Jane Jacobs, the author of The Life and Death of Great American Cities explains the issues with a lack of walkability in chapter 2, The uses of sidewalks: safety. Auto oriented development, or what Jane Jacob calls “Pedestrian shadows” will negatively impact the walking experience, and discourages those to walk. These can include strip malls, which is behind a sea of parking that the pedestrian must cross, intersections which do not prioritize pedestrians, or areas with poor building frontages. This compounds the idea of a lack of safety in some areas as Jane Jacobs calls in, “eyes on the streets”. Dense walkable neighborhoods encourage people to come out and walk, and as more people end up becoming a part of a community, the cost of policing decreases as well, due to the increased self policing of the neighborhood.
This is extremely important to the City of Troy, due to the financial hardships and relatively dense, walkable neighborhoods that currently exist. The City of Troy is currently redeveloping parts of the current industrial estates in the south of the city, which is a good thing to bring investment to South Troy, a historically underserved neighborhood. Troy has also implemented a new pedestrian friendly intersection policy, which helps people cross roads easier. The city is making strides in improving walkability, but like many American cities, still puts cars as king. The City should look at areas of lower density and try and push them to increase density. A clear example are parking lots, which still exist in large amounts around Blitman, as well as the other lots around downtown and Hoosick St. The City should look into these areas, to see if it is possible to repeal parking minimums and rebuild auto-centric commercial areas.
However, it is extremely important that the areas that need the investment get the investment first, lest it widens social and economic divides. Upgrading the public realm and housing stock in South Troy thus becomes extremely important, alongside North Central Troy. These areas have some of the highest poverty rates, around 40%, and the lowest walkability score, around 50. However, this should not invite the displacement of existing residents due to the changes in the area. Currently vacant lots thus become extremely valuable. 22% of all acreage inside the City is vacant, with many forming as old industrial sites, informal parking lots or community gardens and parks in high environmental justice population areas. A mixture of public spaces and new infill housing in these locations should be investigated.
The City of Troy has a large head start with the 15 minute city, and should pursue it, as a way to become more equitable, environmentally and financially sustainable.
