In many ways it's not that different from the apartment complex right next door. I bet those also don't allow you to drive between the buildings. What really makes this development special is that they try to provide all daily necessities and amenities within walking distance. A sizable corner market, a clothing shop, a restaurant, a cafe (yet to open), etc. A very normal sight in Europe, but here you have it in a city block in Arizona.
https://www.google.com/maps/@33.413866,-111.8994126,202m/dat...
Of course the heat is a problem but I guess that’s a problem for all of Arizona.
But I imagine there is a bimodal distribution. If you are 30-50 and busy with building your own family you might see fewer advantages in a place like this (it's a great place to let the kids run free, but that's culturally less acceptable in the US). But once the kids are out of the house you will start appreciate a community like this again. It's probably even more important for old people since they have fewer alternatives to meet people or just sit outside with friends.
So tenants can and do have cars, they just can’t drive/park them next to their units. And the apartments are mixed use w/ commercial stores…but that’s not really novel either.
They do get discounts on ride shares, a free e-bike, and do have a walkable complex that’s safer for families and kids so it does seem like improvement overall.
44,000 square feet of retail and amenities
700+ apartments for rent
50+ shared courtyards
17 acres of land
2+ miles of bike and foot paths
0 square feet of asphalt