Culdesac, a developer that specializes in building car-free neighborhoods from scratch, operates with a key insight in mind: the way we move defines the way we live. And because how we move is changing, thanks to things like ridesharing, the way we live should change as well.
As such, Culdesac Tempe, currently under construction on a 16-acre site in Tempe, Ariz., will be the first car-free neighborhood built from scratch in the United States, according to the developer. The $140 million project will provide 636 apartments for approximately 1,000 residents, with space for zero private cars. That’s right, if you want to live in Culdesac Tempe, you will need to leave your wheels behind. The neighborhood’s one small mini-lot will be stocked with hourly rentable car-sharing, such as GetAround, Turo, or Zipcar, and the perimeter of the neighborhood will be stippled with rideshare pick-up zones.
Space that is typically set aside for streets and parking lots will instead be used for acres of greenspace, courtyards, and shops. Not having to create a maze of pavement for vehicles means more than half of the land area will be covered in landscaping and greenery, a ratio not seen in urban developments.
See Also: Redefining lost urban spaces: 5 ways to turn a laneway into a “lanescape”
But Culdesac Tempe doesn’t plan on leaving its residents stranded without any transportation besides their own two feet. The neighborhood will bring together services like ridesharing, shared bikes and electric scooters, same day grocery delivery, and an on-site light rail station that connects to the downtown to mitigate any headaches associated without having a private vehicle. The neighborhood will also feature a pool, a dog park, and a gym.
Another interesting idea Culdesac Tempe will be trying looks to reimagine the guest room. Instead of private guest rooms, which often times aren’t even used, residents will be able to put up friends in bookable guest suites strategically placed throughout the neighborhood.
Culdesac Tempe is slated to launch in late 2020.
Related Stories
Architects | Apr 20, 2017
‘Gateways to Chinatown’ project seeks the creation of a new neighborhood landmark for NYC’s Chinatown
The winning team will have $900,000 to design and implement their proposal.
Green | Apr 14, 2017
Sunqiao looks to bring agriculture back to Shanghai’s urban landscape
Vertical farms will bring new farmable space to the city.
Industrial Facilities | Apr 12, 2017
Energizing the neighborhood
The Denny Substation in Seattle is designed to give local residents a reason to visit.
Urban Planning | Apr 3, 2017
Capturing the waterfront draw
People seem to experience a gravitation toward the water’s edge acutely and we traverse concrete and asphalt just to gaze out over an open expanse or to dip our toes in the blue stuff.
Urban Planning | Mar 31, 2017
4 important things to consider when designing streets for people, not just cars
For the most part what you see is streets that have been designed with the car in mind—at a large scale for a fast speed.
Urban Planning | Mar 14, 2017
Denmark-based architecture firm gives China the world’s longest elevated bike path
The Xiamen Bicycle Skyway stretches for 7.6 kilometers throughout the central part of the city.
Urban Planning | Feb 9, 2017
Abandoned WWII-era military village to become 'commune for the 21st century'
The village in Heidelberg, Germany, which 16,000 Americans called home at one time, is being redesigned as a commune for up to 4,000 people.
Green | Feb 6, 2017
A to Z: Seoul’s elevated park features 24,000 alphabetized plants
The plants will represent 250 species found in South Korea.
Urban Planning | Jan 17, 2017
Using 'hidden data' to probe urban problems
The Center for Neighborhood Technology has been tackling poverty, housing, transportation, and environmental issues for four decades.
Architects | Nov 11, 2016
Six finalists selected for London’s Illuminated River competition
The competition is searching for the best design for lighting the bridges of central London.
