The following looks like an interesting concept.
It's too crowded and restrictive for me.
Welcome to Culdesac Tempe
The first car-free neighborhood built from scratch in the US!
Culdesac is a 17-acre, "Mediterranean-style" rental complex located just a few miles east of the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, offering apartments with up to three bedrooms, as well as studios, for a starting lease price of $1,300 per month. However, there are no parking lots or garages, so residents either walk or bike almost anywhere they need to go.
They needn't go far. The Culdesac neighborhood is complete with grocery stores, retail shops, restaurants, a gym, a yoga studio, and a med spa, as well as outdoor gathering spaces to encourage community interaction. For longer travels, each resident has a free light-rail pass to use at will as well as discounted Lyft rates. The first 200 residents were even given a free ebike.
The thought of living in an area without unsightly parking lots and almost no auto-related traffic likely sounds appealing, especially to many young people interested in the easy access and fun nightlife of urban living without the hefty price tag. "We look back nostalgically at college, because it’s the only time most people have lived in a walkable neighborhood," claimed Culdesac co-founder Ryan Johnson. "People are happier and healthier, and even wealthier when they’re living in a walkable neighborhood."
However, Culdesac and car-free developments like it have significant drawbacks. For one thing, all Culdesac residents seem to rent, not own, their living space. Its website makes no mention of condo living or lease-to-buy opportunities.
Car-less living can also restrict people's freedom to travel at times and to destinations of their
own choosing. They must move about according to light-rail schedules and the practical limitations of ebike and rideshare options.
NBC News notes that the environment might also become a problem for some as well. In the greater-Phoenix area, summer temperatures regularly soar above 100 degrees, and the arid climate means there is almost no cloud or tree cover for respite from the baking sunshine.
For the time being, though, Culdesac has had some success. Its first residents moved in about six months ago, and its owners hope to have 1,000 residents by next year.
"Live in a 5-minute city"
At Culdesac Tempe, our retailers are award-winners, community leaders and visionaries.
You’re just 5 mins away from all your essentials at Street Corner Urban Market, a quick tune-up at Archer's Bikes, and a cozy dinner at Cocina Chiwas.
Culdesac builds car-free neighborhoods from scratch. Come live at the first car-free neighborhood in the US - Culdesac Tempe (Phoenix) - 1000 people, 0 cars.
culdesac.com