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Phoenix families spend nearly two thirds of their income on transportation and housing. Now, a new housing trend is looking to shake that up.

Urban Living 2 is scheduled to complete construction in spring 2014. (Photo by Stina Sieg-KJZZ)

Today, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan toured an apartment complex under construction that will bring people of all income levels together, downtown. 

Phoenix is going urban. Those were some of Mayor Greg Stanton’s first words inside the unfinished courtyard at Urban Living 2. The 70-unit building will follow in the footsteps of Devine Legacy, which already offers a mix of low-income and market-rate housing close to downtown’s light rail. Stanton said many people do not want huge houses far from the city.

"People of all ages want to live a more urban lifestyle, close to the action of downtown, close to the symphony, ballet, opera, close to Roosevelt Row and the excitement of first Fridays," Stanton said.

Stanton said these opportunities should not be limited to the rich or middle class.

Donovan agreed. He said UL2, as it is known, will not just bring down housing costs for its low-income residents, it will lower their transportation expenses while giving them a beautiful place to live. In his words, this is not just housing.

"That’s too simple. This is part of a much broader transformation that’s happening in Phoenix, that should be a model for the rest of the country. I congratulate every one of you," Donovan said.

The non-profit Native American Connections is behind UL2. The complex is set to be completed in spring 2014.