Tempe, Arizona is one of the places where Waymo is testing its fleet of autonomous minivans and it’s about to be home to America’s first car-free neighborhood built from scratch.
As part of its claim to fame, 1,000 apartment dwellers will not have private cars or parking as the neighborhood was designed for the “post-car” future.
This could limit the project’s appeal, but cars aren’t entirely out of the picture. Quite the opposite actually as the neighborhood will have parking for visitors, car-shares for off-site transportation and dedicated ride-sharing pick-up zones. There will also be a shuttle buses and scooters.
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The idea sounds like an enthusiast’s nightmare, but the $140 (£108 / €126) million Culdesac Tempe project will be located near a light rail station and the city’s downtown area. This means a number of residents can either walk to work or take public transportation.
Interestingly, Culdesac says the design of most developments is dictated by parking. Without having to incorporate this into their Tempe project, there will be approximately three times more green space than the average development.
Besides the green space, the development will include a co-working space as well as retailers, a grocery store and a coffee shop. There will also be a market hall, courtyards and community spaces.
The idea sounds pretty crazy, but Culdesac says “real estate innovation has failed to keep up with fast-paced changes in mobility.” This sentiment was echoed by Culdesac co-founder and COO Jeff Berens who said, “People are ready to leave their cars behind for the walkable and vibrant lifestyle that comes from living in a car-free neighborhood.”
