The Christ in Prophecy Journal

Arizona Community Says ‘No Cars Allowed!’

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In the east valley of Phoenix, Arizona, the first car-free neighborhood opened. It’s called Culdesac Tempe. This is the first car-free neighborhood built from scratch in the U.S.!

I ask myself, “Is this a good thing?” I understand that living in a rented apartment complex where you only walk or bike throughout the complex may be appealing. This complex has its own market, restaurant, dog park, and many shared courtyards. It is 17 acres, with 700 apartments, and 50 shared courtyards. The most significant selling point is that there is no automobile traffic or traffic noise. Local news reports said the waitlist for these Culdesac apartments is over 600 people.

Culdesac, which is also the name of the developer, is the first post-car real estate developer in the U.S. A “post-car real estate developer” — I’ve never used that title before. In fact, no one has ever used that description for a residential unit before.

The New York Times called this project, “A pedestrian oasis.” Bloomberg‘s headline was, “Walkable, car-free living.” The Wall Street Journal proclaimed this project “The first of its kind in the U.S.”

These apartments are one, two, and some three bedrooms. A typical one-bedroom is 648 square feet and rents for $1,420 monthly. A one-bedroom 850 square feet apartment rents for $1,940 per month. Rents go up to $3,060 per month. However, those who sign leases have to commit to living car-free.

What if you need to get off campus? How do you get to Scottsdale or Phoenix metro? How do you get to work or to school? What if you want to shop and you’ll be buying more than you can carry home? The planned response to those questions is the perks that come with a lease. Each resident receives:

  • 15% off all Lyft rides
  • Free rides on the metro (which is public transportation)
  • Carsharing starting at $5/hour
  • 100+ scooters on-site

15-Minute Cities

Fifteen-Minute Cities have come to London. Now, in Arizona, we have a 5-Minute Community! Realize that Phoenix is the fifth largest city in the United States. Tempe, along with cities like Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa, is part of the East Valley of Phoenix. According to the last census, Tempe’s population is over 170,000. It is the home of Arizona State University.

Culdesac claims they want to build this same structure in other cities such as Dallas, Denver, and beyond.

C40 Steering Committee

Another name for 15-Minute Cities is C40. C40 is a group of mayors from cities around the globe saying they are willing to unite in planning and organizing 15-Minute Cities. C40 does have a steering committee. The chairman position does rotate. Currently, the chairman of the C40 steering committee is the mayor of London. Also on this steering committee is the current mayor of Phoenix.

Agenda 2030

What we are seeing in Tempe is the beginning of the fulfillment of Agenda 2030 and its sustainable development plan. In 2015, the United Nations announced a set of 17 sustainable goals. Their plan was to reach these goals by 2030, which gave them 15 years to accomplish their goal. By 2021, they realized they were falling behind in the implementation of their goals, so in order to reach them by their 2030 target date they publicly said they had to rachet up their efforts.

George Mason University, School of Business

About a year ago, George Mason University School of Business did a case study on the proposed car-free neighborhood development. In this case study, they highlighted Culdesac and the community they were building in the East Valley of Phoenix. It all seems good. In the beginning.

Urban Development

Over the years, cities in America have developed to adapt to how our lifestyles and needs have progressed. The history of cities in America can be broken down into three phases. The first phase was called Walking Cities. The timing of this phase was pre-1880. These cities had narrow, unpaved roads. You can still see what neighborhoods from two hundred years ago were like in places like Philadelphia.

The second phase of the development of American cities was called Streetcar Cities. This stage took place from 1880-1920. After 1920, the automobile city was popularized and continues on to today. Americans have a love affair with the automobile.

Agenda 21

In 1992, the United Nations Agenda 21 program was announced. Its tagline was, “Done for our good and for the greater good.” Remember this was 1992. Agenda 21 listed many of America’s activities as “unsustainable and targeted for elimination by 2030.”

  1. Agenda 21 planned that all private property ownership and rights would be deemed unsustainable and targeted for elimination. In 2020, The Great Reset’s tagline was, “In ten years, you’ll own nothing and be happy.”
  2. Agenda 21 claimed all forms of crop irrigation were deemed unsustainable and targeted for elimination. In 2023, the news is filled with stories of farmland, dairy farms, and livestock being destroyed.
  3. Agenda 21 claimed livestock production and most meat would be unsustainable and targeted for elimination. Instead, the normal diet would be living on a vegetarian diet. The Great Reset has projected that hamburgers or steak will no longer be a staple; instead, you’ll be offered bugs for protein.
  4. Agenda 21 projected that privately owned vehicles and personal travel would be unsustainable and targeted for elimination. Now we have 15-Minute Cities and no-car developments, and people are actually excited about these developments!
  5. Agenda 21 had single-family homes and suburban communities being unsustainable and targeted for elimination. Today, look at all the apartment complexes being built. These are not being built by mistake.

George Washington

Returning to our Founding Fathers, our first president, George Washington, wisely declared there would be no such things as human rights without property ownership. I believe his exact quote was: “Freedom and property rights are inseparable. You can’t have one without the other.”

What’s Next?

By 2030, you’ll own nothing, and you’ll be happy. Really?! Car-free communities and neighborhoods — is this good? Let’s not look at the sales pitch, rather let’s look at the outcome. What happens when we give up more freedoms? For now, it’s eliminating cars. Next will be the Digital ID, then digital currencies. As more personal freedoms are restricted or removed, it seems the next step will be travel restrictions and free speech.

If you are dependent on a great power for everything. i.e., the government, then you are not free. The Great Reset, which has now transitioned to The Great Narrative, may sound good in theory, but look at what the outcome will be — slavery!

Maranatha, come quickly, Lord Jesus!

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Dr. David Bowen

Dr. David Bowen serves part-time at Lamb & Lion Ministries as the Teaching Evangelist. He pastors Standing Stones Community Church in Phoenix, Arizona.

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