The Not-Quite-20-Minute Neighborhood

Portland wants to create a series of "20-minute neighborhoods" -- places where people can walk, within 20 minutes, to most of the places they need to go and the services they need. Some neighborhoods are already there, but others have a ways to go.

1 minute read

November 16, 2010, 8:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg


"Portland is trying to be North America's most walkable city by employing a vision for 20-minute communities in much of its current planning. There's a lot of power in this idea, and if done right, it can be influential beyond the Rose City. The key though, as I see it, is not to embellish Portland's thriving boutique districts, but instead to strengthen the places that are lacking structural riches. If the city can do this, it will have accomplished something that can inform planning everywhere."

This slideshow takes a look at one neighborhood where the "20-minute" goal has yet to be achieved.

Monday, November 15, 2010 in PlanningPool

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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