Proximity without equity? Racialized housing organizations and the 15-minute city

This viewpoint piece critically examines the 15-minute city (15mC) concept in the United States, highlighting how proximity planning interacts with racialized governance and institutional structures. While the 15mC promotes sustainability, convenience, and human-scale urban life, its implementation often overlooks how local organizations, such as homeowners’ associations and special-purpose districts – here termed Racialized Housing Organizations (RHOs) – mediate access to amenities and shape neighborhood inclusion. Drawing on U.S. examples, this analysis demonstrates that proximity alone does not ensure equity; instead, it can reinforce socio-spatial hierarchies. A relational approach that integrates governance, historical power dynamics, and community agency is essential to ensure proximity functions as a mechanism for inclusion rather than exclusion.