Living car-free in the Arizona desert: inside Culdesac Tempe (full walkthru)

Just outside sprawling Phoenix, a car-free neighborhood built from scratch has gone up, the first one of its kind in the US. Modeled after walkable villages of yesteryear, Culdesac Tempe sits next to a light rail stop and has its own grocery store, restaurant, coffee shop, used clothing store, gym, and plenty of gathering spaces.

The 17-acre community will eventually have 1000 residents, but no parking except for guests (the city of Tempe waived mandated parking minimums) though there is plenty of bike parking and free annual light rail passes for all residents.

Culdesac resembles a Mediterranean white village, but it also is aiming at “desert urbanism” to provide relief from the local heat. There are no cement sidewalks (using instead pavers and decomposed granite), white paint to reflect the sun and native plants to help create a microclimate. Culdesac’s Erin Boyd explained that temperatures on their walkways have been measured at 90F (32C) on days when the pavement outside Culdesac is 120F (48C).

While currently units here are only for rent, Boyd explained that Culdesac’s expansion plans include options for residents to buy as well.

Planted Alchemist Foundation (Yoseph El*) in partner with Nama.

[jeannamcgregor]

I love the almost random way the buildings are angled in relation to each other. Just that small factor makes it feel more organic and old, and it makes each building feel a little different.

[teege]

I studied Urban Planning and Development at ASU 04-08 during the Valley's boom years in the run-up to the financial crisis. The light rail had just been finished. We studied projects like these, and urban planners and the development community were excited at the prospect of having these in the Valley. Many were even proposed along the light rail line. I remember seeing many renderings. The crash killed them all. But also, these ideas were ahead of their time in 2008. Everything else had to catch up. The city had to ease parking requirements. Building design regulations had to change. The overall density of the area had to grow. Now 15 years later, the first one is built. Progress comes at a glacial pace. The circumstances around ASU in Tempe are good for a development like this to be successful, but I worry that it will soon devolve into just a fancy dorm.

[bonnyphotinos]

really like and appreciate the gentleman who has much knowledge of food-based plants and trees. holding his children. wise and gentle soul. this project is very forward thinking. ha, ironically, we are turning to our past in order to be more progressive and human. car centered, we lost sight of one another.

[bevwhite-martini]

I agree that the rooftop should be made so that residence could plant gardens

[darilynkotzenberg]

I toured Culdesac in June of 2023. Beautiful, lovely new [old] concept. This way of living increases physical and mental health and is much better for the environment. I'm working with S.I. Container Builds out of Chicago to do something similar.

[oakld]

I'm from Europe and used to towns with beautifully chaotic tiny streets, but no new development looks like this. I'm blown away 👏👏👏

[Cyancat]

I really appreciate just how uniquely Arizonan it feels. Whenever a new “dense and walkabale” development is made it always tries to appeal to the same modern wood-and-metal aesthetic.

[EagleArrow]

Our US towns were like this created near train stops or water waterways. People biked, walked, had electric scooters, trains, electric trollies, or even electric buses and subways pre WW1.

[ttopero]

I’ve seen many videos for Culdesac recently & following this for years. This video showed some important & unique features that none of the others have: no asphalt, live-work, small shops, Thursday night events, unique perspective views throughout, crushed granite walkways, edible landscape. These items make this video special!

[corinnapetry]

Your videos never disappoint. I am so happy you and your family continue to explore these communities, and open our eyes to what is possible and better for the world. Thank you.

[vroman]

This is the best video of Culdesac that actually lets me see what it's like. More raw

[micheledolgovskij]

I love the white buildings with different colored doors. This would be such a cool place to start out living and making a career path.

[lifeonearth]

"Is it perfect? No. Is it better?" YES. More of this plz.

[janeparent]

Kirsten, come to Civano in Tucson, it will have its 25 year anniversary this year. It is a neighborhood that tried to do a lot of these concepts along with environmental benefits, new urbanism, mixed zoning, creating a sense of place etc. Some successes some failures along the way.

[fmguillory]

It's uplifting to see young, small biz owners in a community setting.

[winstonsmith]

It has a very catalan looking. It's a mix of Sant Cugat, Masnou, Sitges with Terrassa, Sabadell and some places of Poble Nou. If you wear me there with closed eyes and I don't listen anybody talking English I could really think that I'm in Masnou, for instance.

Congratulations to the architects. And thanks to them because it makes me feel more valuable my experiences on places like these.

[radicalaccounting]

Love the concept but the rents are insane. Thanks for asking about the rents. Also the retail store that got a break on rent/lease was interesting. I live in a trailer park, same deal with community only cheaper. I wish I could show people how I decoriated the inside of my trailer. Dump to designer but I'm a regular person who studiies thi & took my time, did it mostly myself. I was quoted $2K for a video and that's more than it''s worth to me. Tailer parks are awesome. Thanksfor your chanel.

[Aoudhubillahi]

Very insightful developer. I like how she references how people used to live in proximity to one another and I immediately thought of Spain but especially Italy...the old Italian villages. I am only 3 minutes in will have to come back and finish later. Superbowl starts shortly.

[Nehmi]

Los Angeles needs this. You'd be surprised how many of us don't have cars.

[janinawaz]

Where is the community garden space? Where are the solar panels or rainwater catchment system?