Culdesac Tempe

Tempe, AZ

July 2025

Culdesac Tempe represents a bold step forward in community development—the first car-free neighborhood built from scratch in the United States, connecting neighbors, shops, and the surrounding community. Located in Tempe, Arizona, this 17-acre community challenges conventional suburban design by eliminating residential parking and prioritizing walkability above all else. The result is a vibrant neighborhood where 700+ units house approximately 1,000 residents who can access everything they need within a five-minute walk. Culdesac Tempe went vertical at the end of 2021 and welcomed their first residents in the spring of 2023. As of July 2025, the community is home to over 350 residents and 23 local businesses.

The vision of Culdesac becomes immediately apparent in its site plan, which reveals how eliminating parking requirements unlocks extraordinary design possibilities. L-shaped buildings are strategically positioned to create shared courtyards, intimate pathways, and vibrant plazas that encourage natural interaction between neighbors. Without vast expanses dedicated to parking infrastructure, every square foot serves human-scale purposes, from local retail spaces to community gathering areas.

The aerial perspective shows how the absence of parking and driveways allows buildings to nestle closer together while prioritizing open space, local retail, and amenities for residents. Over 55% of the neighborhood is open space. Culdesac residents enjoy a slew of amenities including a resident lounge that doubles as a coworking space and community hub, a pool, two dog parks, courtyards with electric firepits and grilling stations, as well as a state-of-the-art gym.

Culdesac partnered with Opticos Design to bring the vision to life. The narrow walkways threading between Culdesac’s white-painted buildings evoke the intimate streetscapes of European historic villages.

These pedestrian pathways serve as the neighborhood's circulation network, designed to accommodate both walking and cycling in a safe, pleasant environment without the worry of oncoming traffic. There is even an on-site bike shop, 1,000+ bike parking spots, on-site Bird scooters, and resident-led bike rides to further embrace this lifestyle.

The shared courtyards at Culdesac function as outdoor living rooms where residents gather around electric fire pits for evening conversations and impromptu social gatherings.

Two- and three-story walk-up buildings are clustered around courtyards, eliminating long corridors. Some courtyards are equipped with grills and dining surfaces, making it easy to bring life to the outdoors while enjoying a vibrant backdrop.

The resort-style pool offers residents a refreshing escape from Arizona's desert heat while providing another venue for community interaction.

Little Chola Plaza functions as Culdesac's town square, where residents gather for ping-pong tournaments and casual socializing.

This central plaza is the connection point between residential and retail, but more importantly a social hub that continues Culdesac’s strong sense of community.

This car-free environment welcomes residents and pedestrians to safely gather, day or night.

This flexible plaza serves as the venue for regular community programming, from farmers markets to live music performances that bring the entire neighborhood together.

The state-of-the-art fitness center exemplifies how Culdesac integrates essential services directly into the neighborhood fabric, eliminating the need for residents to drive to external facilities. This multi-level gym features modern equipment and industrial design elements that create an energetic, urban atmosphere while providing comprehensive fitness options.

Culdesac's commitment to art goes far beyond decoration—murals and sculptures are strategically placed in gathering spaces to spark conversation and reinforce the community's environmental values. The mural visible here, created by world-renowned Phoenix-born artist El Mac, exemplifies how public art can transform utilitarian spaces into cultural destinations. Local artists like Frank Gonzales, who grew up nearby, and Sam Fresquez, who weaves her Hispanic heritage into works that celebrate Arizona's multicultural aesthetic, ensure that Culdesac's artistic identity reflects the authentic character of its place and people.

Local retail spaces seamlessly integrate into the neighborhood's residential fabric, creating the kind of mixed-use environment that makes daily errands a pleasure rather than a chore. Residents can grab essentials at the corner market, get a bike tune-up at Archer's Bikes, or enjoy a cozy dinner at Cocina Chiwas without ever leaving their neighborhood.

There are over a dozen micro-retail spaces on the ground floor, 10 of which are zoned for live-work purposes. In addition, Culdesac has 8 traditional commercial spaces. Without the need to allocate space for residential parking, the developer was able to prioritize open space, local retail, and amenities for residents.

Residential corridors and front doors face shared courtyards and community spaces rather than parking lots or busy streets, creating natural opportunities for neighbor interactions and community building.

The tour will continue through a couple rental opportunities within Culdesac. The Marigold is one of the smaller, efficient homes. This studio with 1 bath and a private balcony is 635 square feet and starts at $1,699 per month as of July 2025.

Located in the center of all the action, right above the neighborhood market, the Marigold unit is just a few seconds away from Culdesac’s local businesses, market, and restaurants.

This modern open concept unit features a private balcony that looks out onto city views.

The Acacia is 984 square feet with 2 bedrooms and 1 bath. Beyond the Marigold with Private Balcony and Acacia, there are 12 additional floor plans currently available. The diverse mix of floor plan options ensures that there is something for everyone, between singles and couples, or even small families. As of July 2025, the Acacia starts at $2,320 per month.

The Acacia kitchen features high-end finishes and modern appliances, and even…

…a kitchen island for additional storage and dining. Note the floor-to-ceiling windows that transform compact spaces into bright, airy environments that feel connected to the broader community.

Acacia bedroom

Since they are car-free, Culdesac provides convenient access to various transportation options, including ride-sharing services and autonomous vehicle partnerships that connect residents to the broader Phoenix metropolitan area. Waymo autonomous vehicles regularly serve the community, offering residents a glimpse into the future of urban mobility while providing practical, discounted transportation for longer trips.

Residents enjoy unlimited, complimentary access to Valley Metro transit services, including light rail and buses. The nearby light rail station connects Culdesac residents to Phoenix's growing transit network, providing convenient access to employment centers, entertainment districts, and other destinations throughout the metropolitan area. This transit connectivity is crucial to making it easy for residents to access everything Tempe and the Phoenix Metro have to offer.

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Culdesac Tempe

Product type: Apartment Masterplan

Consultants

Builders

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Architects

Opticos

Interior designers

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Culdesac

JBREC Consultant

Ken Perlman

Managing Principal

San Diego, CA

kperlman@jbrec.com

Location

2025 E. Apache

Phone number (480) 210-6004

State Arizona

City Tempe

Zip Code 85281