The Good News…the Bad News…and the 15-Minute City

The good news is that I finally received the “convocation” for the very important interview for French citizenship on October 17th. This is the final round before France decides if I am worthy or not to become a French citizen. It wasn’t all that important to me until Donald Trump took office. The idea started with his first term in office, but like most things, it just kept getting put off until Daniel Tostado, our illustrious immigration attorney who has helped hundreds of our clients, shamed me into taking the idea more seriously. He was shocked that after 30 years living in France I hadn’t made more effort, so he said, “I’ll help you.”

That was too good of an offer to refuse, so here I am a couple years later on the final leg of the journey. His office has been beyond wonderful in keeping the process on the straight an narrow. It’s no simple task to amass all the documentation they want to see if the French government is going to embrace me, reward me with a French passport and the right to vote.

(For immigration issues, Tostado’s office is THE BEST. We also have a “hand-holder” for simple cases, but if don’t want any mistakes made along the way, then talk to the professionals.)

Of course, I’m as immersed in France as anyone could be, and have paid plenty of French taxes. Tuesday I am signing the pre-sale agreement on a property in Paris for my daughter, so that will make five properties in France on our books, not counting the others I’ve bought and sold over the years. If I count the thousands of Americans we’ve helped move to France, that would make me/us an emissary…but that’s not something I think should be mentioned as you never know how the interviewer will feel about such recruitment of us “foreigners.” I’ll have to “feel-out” the interviewer before making such bold claims.

Next weekend, before the meeting takes place, I’ll review the “Livret de Citoyen“* to study up so I can sound as knowledgeable about France as possible during the interview—all this while lying flat on my back for 48 hours post cortisone shot in my spine to relieve the pain from the herniated disk. Anyone who has had such an issue can attest to its unpleasantness! Mine is much improved, thanks to (I am guessing)…1) rolling all of the most immediate possessions in a small suitcase instead of carrying the weight on my shoulder, 2) going back to climbing 70 steps to my “new” old apartment, 3) going back on the healthy anti-inflammatory Whole 30 diet,  4) wearing a lumbar support belt (it’s just lovely, ha!) and 5) carrying an inflatable lumbar pillow wherever I go…not to mention the regular visits to my osteopaths.

The bad news is that this past week in Nice was spent in great part meeting with attorneys and my neighbors to find solutions to the many property-related problems I’m dealing with. The worst of all of them has been going on since early 2012 when discovering that the toilet in the apartment in Nice wasn’t a “real” toilet. Last week’s Nouvellelettre® touched on the story if you want to catch up, and if you Google my name and the word “toilet,” you will find we are almost synonymous. That’s a helluva legacy, don’t you think?

Nonetheless, in a “friendly” meeting over coffee with my downstairs neighbors along with my next door neighbor (who is on the same side as me), we got less than nowhere. I made a very generous offer toward the installation of an elevator, which we all want in the building, only to be told, “That isn’t enough!” I wonder what “enough” is?

That sent me back to the drawing board as it resulted in even more meetings with lawyers and the allied neighbors. It wasn’t fun. And I still have a sanibroyeur toilet and a lawsuit. Ugh. The courts must decide…hopefully a decision will be made in 2026, but even then, it’s likely to get contested by…someone! (Never a dull moment.)

The good news is that one of our clients, whose project was challenging for us—to find her a great place to live in France because of her desire for a garden and land for her big dogs, but to match her contrasting desire and need for urban-living without a car—we managed to tick off all her boxes. The trick was locating her to Fontainebleau, a town well-known for it’s beautiful château 70 kilometers (43 miles) southeast of Paris. It’s a bit far from Paris, but it’s a real town, and not just a suburb.

Here’s what she wrote (and I paraphrased/edited slightly):

Bonjour Adrian and Jay [our agent] and a heartfelt thank you.

Jay helped me earlier this year to get an outstanding garden flat in the middle of Fontainebleau just prior to a surprise hip replacement surgery. Suddenly Adrian, your words of just stick near Paris for at least the first year here became gold. And to be near major medical.

Turns out the general hospital is around the block and most everyone there speaks English. My pharmacy and physical therapist are one block away and both speak English. My bazillion pre-op appointments/tests were all quick Uber rides away but two. And so on. I can’t even begin to tell you both how grateful I am for your help and how appreciative I am of you for not having let the customer be right. Very French of you.

What’s more, my bank is a half block away, the vet is a across the street, I am surrounded by food, groceries, services, my “carte de séjour” renewal E-pics were taken next door, the thrice weekly outstanding producers’ market is two blocks away, Enterprise car rental even closer, and…wait for it…my hairdresser is a block away. The husky groomer is a half block away.

The loaded up eight, whatever it’s called Grande Jeep Cherokee I sold before heading over here, is just a memory of California Living Freeway Servitude, Annoyance, and Expense. And the kicker? This flat is the last one of a building at ground level with its own 80 square meter, and not overlooked walled garden, with greenery, flowers, and tree filled, facing south and west for great sunshine. So much privacy, too. Zero noise.

Oh and the French medical system? Took the French to figure out my bad leg was osteonecrosis of my hip, the care and attention have been amazing, I think they seek to heal us here, and while my travel insurance has refused coverage for this event, it’s less than the deductible for my outlandish former policy in the States. Today I paid the service recommended by my immigration attorney that you referred, (Cabinet Tostado), to begin the “carte vitale”/French SS process. I surely messed up on not applying right away on that. Should have last March. Let your other clients learn from my mistake. But when I consider the level of care and the low expense, I am okay with this. Et merci, merci, merci.

Smiles, JB

We love these kinds of stories. And what I love most is her appreciation “of you [me] for not having let the customer be right.” Sometimes I have to browbeat our clients into understanding that they are going to fully enjoy a totally new and different life without a car…how being close to everything is so wonderful, especially when you hit a certain age and need to be close to doctors and hospitals and all the other amenities.

Do you know about the 15-minute city?

The concept is beautifully simple: structure cities so that most essential needs—work, shopping, schooling, healthcare, leisure—lie within a 15-minute walk, bike ride, or public transport trip from one’s home. The idea is less about restriction, more about liberation: freeing you from being chained to your car, allowing you to live more richly in your neighborhood.

This is France in a nutshell..or at least the cities of France, not the countryside. Sure, the countryside is charming, but maybe it’s for someone younger…with kids…but not for our North American clients wanting to retire in France. This is a return to local living, to neighborhoods that are complete—where you don’t have to think of the “center” as the only place to find what you need.

To make this vision real, several elements must come together:

• Density and Mixed Use: Homes, shops, offices, parks, schools all interwoven so that neighborhoods are alive in many ways.
• Proximity and Accessibility: The walking/cycling/transit network must be safe, direct, pleasant.
• Diversity of Services and Functions: You want a bit of everything nearby—not just homes and boring roads.
• Digital and Flexible Work Modes: Telecommuting, co-working locally, reducing the need to commute far.

As car dependence fades, cities can re-imagine streets, reclaim space for people, for cafés, for strolling under chestnut trees, for children to play safely.

The 15-minute city owes much to Carlos Moreno, a Franco-Colombian researcher, scientist, and professor at the Sorbonne, who framed it under the lens of chrono-urbanism—giving time value in the city, not just distance. He defined six essential urban functions to be accessible: living, working, commerce, health, education, and entertainment.

The benefits are many: less pollution, better health (more walking), stronger community ties, more equitable access to amenities, reduced stress from commuting.

Here’s how France plays out:

Paris
• Mayor Anne Hidalgo adopted the concept and has made the “ville du quart d’heure” a flagship policy: more bike lanes, reduced car traffic, neighborhood schools and services, pedestrianized streets.
• Many central arrondissements already feel like 15-minute villages—cafés, “boulangeries,” pharmacies, markets, culture all within steps.

Lyon
• France’s second city has been redesigning its neighborhoods for walkability and mixed use.
• Districts like Croix-Rousse or Presqu’île feel self-contained—markets, shops, schools, parks, and workspaces nearby.

Nantes
• Long considered a model for sustainable urbanism.
• Extensive tram system, car-free quays, green corridors, and cultural life embedded in neighborhoods.

Strasbourg
• Pioneered cycling infrastructure in France.
• Compact historic core, dense neighborhoods, and transit that makes everything within reach without a car.

Bordeaux
• Has transformed its riverfront, expanded tramways, and encouraged neighborhood vitality with mixed-use development.

Grenoble
• Emphasizes soft mobility: cycling, walking, and trams connecting compact neighborhoods.
• The mountains encircle the city, reinforcing a lifestyle of proximity and outdoor leisure.

Smaller cities that shine:

• Dijon: pedestrianized center, bike-share, local services tightly clustered.
• Rennes: student-driven vibrancy, strong metro/tram system, mixed-use neighborhoods.
• Angers and Montpellier: investing in tram networks and compact neighborhood planning.

In short, many medium-sized French cities (100,000–500,000 residents) fit the 15-minute city concept more easily than sprawling metropolises, because they were historically built on a walkable scale around a cathedral, a market square, or a château.

Ah, Nice—now that’s an interesting case. It’s not always the first French city cited when people talk about the 15-minute city, but in many ways Nice has the bones for it… with some caveats. And that’s where we start browbeating our Niçe-bound clients!

Where Nice aligns with the 15-minute city:

• Compact Old Town and Central Districts: In Vieux Nice, the Carré d’Or, Musiciens, Fleurs, Centre, Carabacel, Liberation, the Port…daily life is truly walkable. You have open-air markets (Cours Saleya, Liberation), shops, cafés, pharmacies, schools, tram stops—all within minutes on foot.
• Public Transit: The tramway system (three lines now, more planned) ties together key neighborhoods and even the airport. For a Mediterranean city long ruled by cars, that’s a major step.
• Outdoor & Cultural Amenities: The Promenade des Anglais, beaches, public gardens, cultural centers, and the MAMAC all sit within easy reach of residential districts. Living in central Nice, you never need a car for leisure or culture.
• Daily Conveniences: The city is rich in “boulangeries,” “épiceries,” neighborhood restaurants, post offices—almost every “quartier” is “complete” in services.

The limitations come with the topography, and that’s why you want to stay central. Nice is squeezed between mountains and sea. Many residents live in the hills (Fabron, Cimiez, Mont Boron) where walking to shops or schools isn’t so easy. Public transport helps, but the 15-minute principle breaks down in these more suburban parts. Narrow streets can make cycling tricky, and drivers dominate outside the core. In high season, the influx of visitors strains the “local village” feel. Services in central districts cater heavily to tourists, sometimes at the expense of year-round residents. But, I’m one of those and don’t feel it personally. In fact, I love high season because the tourists offer non-stop entertainment!

The verdict is if you live centrally in Nice—Old Town, Liberation, Port, Carré d’Or—you’re basically in a 15-minute city already. Life unfolds on foot or by tram, with everything you need close at hand. But if you’re up in the hills or further west toward the airport, you’ll likely find yourself more car-reliant.

This is another reason we don’t recommend living in the enclaves outside of Nice, too! They are lovely, but they lack what central Nice has to offer.

The bad news is if you live alone, regardless of whether you’re in a 15-minute city or not, and you’re of retirement age, don’t wait for an emergency for you to realize that you need someone to be your back-up. It could be a friend, or even someone you hire. But here’s what you need to do:

• Give a set of keys to your home to someone you can trust and who is capable of managing a crisis.
• Ensure you have the phone numbers of emergency services:

• 18 – Fire brigade (“sapeurs-pompiers”). They respond to fires, accidents, and many medical emergencies.
• 15 – SAMU (medical emergencies). This connects you with emergency doctors and ambulances.
• 17 – Police. For immediate danger, crime, or public safety threats.
• 112 – European emergency number. Works across the EU, and you’ll be routed to the right service (police, fire, medical).

Other useful ones in France:

• 114 – Emergency number for people who are deaf or hard of hearing (SMS or fax).
• 116 117 – On-call doctors (non-urgent, after-hours medical help).
• 3114 – National suicide prevention hotline.
• If you’re in doubt, dial 112 – it’s the universal number and will get you the right help.

• Arm that person with the contact information of your next of kin or close friend.
• If you leave the apartment unattended for long periods of time, then you want someone who can come in and check on it, water your plants and pick up your mail!

There are lots of “concierges” in the cities, that can do these things for you. They are managing apartments…perhaps rentals, but they can manage yours, too. It’s another advantage of the 15-minute city!

Before I left Nice on Saturday, I hired someone myself to help manage my insanely busy life there. Already I’m feeling a whole lot more relaxed! She’s going to take my coats to the dry cleaner, clean the window shades and stay tuned for more tasks, all while I’m gone.

Now I’m back in Paris and thanks to my back-up/assistant in Paris, I came home to a “new” old apartment with a fully completed kitchen and bath, clean and ready and very livable. What a pleasure.

Do it for yourself and stay safe.

*Download a copy of the Livret de Citoyen (PDF).

A la prochaine…