In Tempe, Arizona, a bold experiment is underway to rethink American urban living. Culdesac, a 17-acre community built from scratch, has banned private cars altogether — replacing roads and parking lots with plazas, pedestrian walkways, and Mediterranean-inspired courtyards.
Residents describe the development as feeling more like a European village than a U.S. suburb. “It’s like being in Greece,” said resident Sheryl Murdock, who moved to Culdesac while completing a postdoctoral degree in ocean sustainability. “I don’t want to get in my car for everything — I prefer the 15-minute city concept.”
A City Without Cars
Designed by architect Daniel Parolek, Culdesac draws inspiration from Italian hill towns and French coastal villages, places built before automobiles shaped urban planning. The neighborhood is self-sufficient, with restaurants, shops, a dog park, a pool, a coworking hub, and a doctor’s office all within walking distance.
Public transit connects residents to the rest of the Phoenix area. A light rail stop sits at Culdesac’s entrance, linking directly to downtown and the airport. Residents and visitors can also rely on e-bike rentals, self-driving taxis, and shared electric cars available for short-term use.
Cooler by Design
The development is also engineered to combat Arizona’s extreme heat. Buildings are painted bright white to reflect sunlight, positioned close together for shade, and designed with cross-ventilation in every unit. Narrow “paseos,” or walkways, funnel breezes through the complex, creating what Harvard researchers have described as a microclimate up to 40°F cooler than surrounding streets.
A Model for the Future
Culdesac has attracted entrepreneurs, students, and eco-conscious residents who value a car-free lifestyle. About 21 small businesses now operate within the community, ranging from a Mexican restaurant to artisan studios and sustainable shops. Market days bring live music and food stalls, giving the neighborhood the feel of a European plaza.
Advocates say the project challenges the U.S. model of sprawling, car-dependent suburbs. “Once you pull the cars out, there’s so much more opportunity to make a vibrant, thriving community,” Parolek explained.
Culdesac’s backers plan to expand the concept to other cities, buoyed by growing interest from local governments and developers seeking sustainable alternatives to car-centric design.
“Tempe has proven that Americans are willing to live car-free, even in one of the country’s most car-dependent regions,” said Erin Boyd, who leads government relations for the company. “It’s shifted the conversation about what’s possible in U.S. development.”
For visitors, a trip to Culdesac offers a glimpse of what future cities might look like: walkable, community-driven, and designed for people instead of traffic.60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78
- a
b
G
c
G
d
e
f
G
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
ra
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
s
y
z
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
3435
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
s
y
z
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
s
y
z
a
b
c
d
e
f
g1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
