Arizona’s ‘Car-Free’ Community Takes Shape

Culdesac Tempe has been welcoming residents since last year.

1 minute read

February 14, 2024, 11:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Rendering of electric scooters, electric cars, light rail train, and apartments in background.

Culdesac Tempe / Mobility

A new car-free development somewhat ironically dubbed Culdesac in Tempe, Arizona is starting to gain residents. As Robert English reports in The Cool Down, the Phoenix-adjacent community boasts no car parking and mixed-use development that puts many daily needs within easy reach of residents. “The developers hope to have around 1,000 people live in Culdesac by 2025, when their 760 units will be completed.”

As English points out, the development operates more like a large campus within the city of Tempe. While “Culdesac aims to eliminate the harmful effects of cars on the environment with climate-friendly housing while reuniting communities outside of the home and workplace,” it remains to be seen how many residents will need to commute to jobs and other needs farther outside the town—and how they’ll be able to get there.

Monday, February 12, 2024 in The Cool Down

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