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Residents Find Joy in Car-Free Zone: U.S. Neighborhood Embraces Walkability

Envisioning a pioneering neighborhood in the U.S. that entirely excludes cars might seem implausible, especially in a place like Phoenix, Arizona. Known for its vast, harsh desert landscapes and sometimes criticized for its unsustainable urban practices, Phoenix seems an unlikely birthplace for such innovation.

Yet, this is exactly where Culdesac, the first of its kind, has been established. Transformed from a 17-acre area previously hosting a car repair shop and neglected buildings, this distinctive project presents a unique lifestyle seldom experienced by Americans outside of college campuses, theme parks, or European travels: a community scaled for humans, emphasizing walkability and completely omitting cars.

Earlier this year, Culdesac welcomed its initial 36 inhabitants, with plans to accommodate approximately 1,000 residents in a total of 760 homes, spanning two and three-story structures, by 2025. Breaking away from conventional American living, the community offers no car parking and even motivates residents to relinquish their vehicles. Moreover, it integrates living spaces with facilities like grocery stores, eateries, fitness centers, and bike shops, a blend typically disallowed by stringent urban zoning regulations.

While such communities exist in metropolises like New York City and San Francisco, they are often financially out of reach for many due to their desirability and the substantial resistance to new housing developments. However, the $170 million Culdesac endeavor, co-founded by 40-year-old Ryan Johnson and his partner Jeff Berens, demonstrates the feasibility of creating pedestrian-friendly communities in the U.S. in the current decade.

Johnson, who brings the spirit of a tech entrepreneur and has a history with the real estate platform OpenDoor, attributes his passion for a carless lifestyle to his experiences in various countries and his personal choice to live without a car for over a decade. He points out that contemporary U.S. housing options often lead to isolation or a reliance on cars that limits social interactions.

The architecture of Culdesac diverges not just in purpose but also in aesthetic. Its residences sport a Mediterranean flair, using color and design to foster social spaces and walkways, or “paseos.” This design importantly offers shade, a crucial respite from Phoenix’s intense heat, with temperatures in these sheltered areas significantly lower than the surrounding regions.

The absence of cars significantly enhances both the ambiance and functionality of the space, observes city planner Jeff Speck. Even though there is a small parking area for guests, the emphasis is on promoting alternative transportation, including deals with ride-sharing services, local light rail, electric scooters, and offering ebikes to the first 200 residents.

This initiative is remarkable given the U.S.’s historical devotion to cars, a preference that has shaped its urban landscapes and policies, often to the detriment of community connectivity and environmental well-being. Culdesac aims to challenge this norm, providing a blueprint for more eco-conscious living and a means to rekindle community ties eroded by sprawling, car-dependent urban designs.

Inhabitants of Culdesac, like Vanessa Fox, appreciate the ability to live in a connected community without the ubiquitous reliance on a car. Despite some acquaintances finding her choice unconventional, Fox values the freedom it offers.

Speck anticipates that such close-knit communities will foster stronger bonds among residents, jokingly suggesting the emergence of “Culdesac babies.” However, he acknowledges that for areas like Culdesac to proliferate, there needs to be a significant shift in both urban planning policies and cultural attitudes toward transportation and living spaces.

Despite the entrenched car culture and the challenges it poses, Johnson is optimistic about replicating the Culdesac model in other cities, responding to a growing demand for such communities. He believes this project can resonate nationwide, given the right urban improvements and openness to less car-centric living.

As Speck points out, every significant change starts with a single step. The real test for broader adaptation will be whether cities can enhance their transit options and adapt to accommodate such innovative living solutions. The question for city leaders now is whether their urban environments are ready for the Culdesac revolution.