When Andre Rouhani and Gabriela Reyes visited Culdesac Tempe, a rental development outside of Phoenix, they found it rather charming. The narrow corridors, boutique shops, and low white stucco buildings surrounding a shady courtyard gave the place a sweet look.
The couple, with an infant and another baby on the way along with two dogs, were surprised to learn there was no resident parking available. Despite this, they decided to move to Culdesac in December, handing the car over to Reyes’ father. Rouhani expressed, “Simply put, we decided that all the pros outweigh the weaknesses. We really love it here. This is the best place I’ve ever lived.”
50 states, 50 revisions This is a series about local solutions to environmental issues. I’ll cover more of this throughout the year.
Built long before cars were prevalent, modeled after Italian and Greek towns, Culdesac Tempe is the country’s first neighborhood intentionally designed to be car-free.
CEO Ryan Johnson envisioned a place where residents could live comfortably without being dependent on cars. He stated, “It’s one of the best things you can do for climate, health, happiness, cost of living, and even government costs. It’s a better lifestyle; we often become the worst version of ourselves behind the wheel.”
Source: www.nytimes.com