Last year, when Andre Rouhani and Gabriela Reyes traveled Culdesac Tempe, a rental development outside Phoenix, the place seemed quite sweet. It had winning walkways, boutiques and white stucco buildings of small quantities grouped around the shaded courtyards.
The only surprise came when Mr. Rouhani, 33, a doctoral student at the State University of Arizona, asked -about the residents’ car park and told him that there were none.
The couple had two dogs, a young child and another baby along the way. « Brief history, we decided that all the advantages are over the cons, » Rouhani said in a recent telephone interview. The family gave their car to Mrs. Reyes’ father and moved to Culdesac in December. « We really do it, I love here, » said Mr. Rouhani. « It’s the best place I’ve ever lived. »
50 states, 50 solutions It is a series of local solutions to environmental problems. More to come this year.
Modeling in the cities of Italy and Greece built long before the arrival of cars, Culdesac Tempe is what its developers call the country First neighborhood is built on purpose to be free of cars.
Ryan Johnson, Culdesac’s CEO, said he wanted to offer a model to live in a walking place, even in a state -focused state and often struck.
« It’s one of the best things we can do for climate, health, happiness, low cost of living, even the low cost of government, » said Johnson, who also lives in Culdesac. « It is also a better lifestyle. We all become the worst versions of ourselves behind the wheel. »
Although there is a short -term parking for deliveries, retailers and guests, it is expected that Culdesac residents will move through the nearby light railway system, as well as on buses, scooters, electric bicycles and through walking actions. There are 22 retail stores, various live work spaces and a small Korean market. So far, 288 apartment units have been built over eight of the 17 hectares of the site with 450 most planned units.
There are other places without cars in the United States, mainly island escapades where people walk, bicycle or tool through golf carts. But zoning requirements in most cities often require new developments to provide residents with a minimum number of parking stains, included in the Phoenix area, a paragon in urban extension. The developers of Culdesac Tempea received a special exemption from the parking requirements by the city of Tempee.
« This is completely different from our modern and conventional developmental approach, » said Edward Erfurt, a leading technical counselor at Strong Towns, a non -profit -American non -profit group who promotes community resilience. « We just had this experiment over the last eight decades when we have chosen to prioritize a isolated transport system against our natural way of working together as humans. »
Culdesac Tempee broke this mold, said Erfurt, adding: « This is very important. »
The two and three plants of Culdesac are designed for the desert climate, painted in bright white to reflect the heat. Not having to take into account the residential parking allowed its architects to configure the buildings to maximize the shadow and design narrow roads that promoted the breezes and social commitment.
« The pedestrian is really the main person, the figure you are developing, » said Alexandra Vondeling, the main architect of the project. Large glass extensions were wasted, awnings on the sun -oriented windows, and native plants and trees were put in the cooling. There is a wide walkway that can accommodate emergency vehicles, but there is no asphalt, reducing the effect of the urban heat island and improving the conditions for the dogs that live there.
The apartments range from the studies to the three bedroom units, which rented $ 1,300 to $ 2,800 a month, which Mr. Johnson said they were market rates. Almost 90 percent are rented.
Some residents were attracted to Culdesac due to their free car mission, others despite this. There is a contingent, an unknown size, which is still owned by cars, just parked outside the site.
Sheryl Murdock, 50, a postdoctoral researcher living in Canada, rents a unit because he is often at a tempt to work and wanted to balance carbon emissions from all this flight.
Ashley Weiland and her husband moved with their youngest son to give up the expense of having a car and ended up getting a job in Culdesac, at a restaurant there and in maintenance.
Electra Hug, 24, who works for the city of Tempee and is blind, wanted to be close to public transport and have a sense of community. This is the first time he has lived without the assistance of family and friends. « To have a good time or have fun -me, I do not have to cross the street, » said Ms. Hug. « It is very unique and really cozy. »
Mr. Rouhani and Mrs. Reyes lend his father’s car once a week for orders. Otherwise, they are mainly directed by public transport with free passes provided by Culdesac.
Living in a place where people do not run from where people are not in their cars means that the rhythm is slower, with more connection opportunity, said Mr. Rouhani. It is the type of community, he said, where the neighbors take a cup of sugar from each other. In the days after his daughter, three different families brought a meal, left their cookies or offered to buy -groceries. « We feel really supported and loved here, » he said.
David King, who teaches urban planning at Arizona State University, said that Culdesac Tempee could ask other developers to pressure the exemptions from parking requirements. And Mr. Erfurt, by Strong Towns, said that Culdesac Tempee could open the road, because for similar developments to cars that are built in places like closed malls, which could approach the crisis of affordable housing, reduce loneliness and bring people where they work.
« We could do everything that simply discoupted development car park, » Erfurt said. « In all markets, people are looking for it. »
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