[freeandclear]

What kind of neighborhood is Golden Gate Estates in Naples? What are the problems? What is good about it? I would appreciate any kind of feedback.
Brutal honesty is what I am looking for. Just tell me what you know about it.
Thank you in advance.

[TheRollingSurf]

I moved out of that area in 1990 and it was miles and miles of woods. I'd have to assume it's not like that anymore and am courious to see what replies you get also. Naples was GREAT in the 70's and 80's.



RON PAUL 08

[Roadrunner69]

Hi, I have lived in SWFL for over 30 years. Golden Gate Estates has filled in a bit more since then but now it seems to be a favored area for grow houses. Also during the dry season it tends to have fires flare up since it is still kind of rural. Just the other day they busted a guy with about seven pieces of stolen construction equipment in his yard I'm talking backhoes and bobcats he got caught because the generator he stole had a Lowjack system on it.

[judgejoe]

Originally Posted by freeandclear

What kind of neighborhood is Golden Gate Estates in Naples? What are the problems? What is good about it? I would appreciate any kind of feedback.
Brutal honesty is what I am looking for. Just tell me what you know about it.
Thank you in advance.

Geez! Over 500 families in the Estates 17 grow houses in 5 years.
It ain't that bad for a rural area. I wish I had seen Naples 30 years ago; everyone says it was so nice back then. Its still real nice, quiet, the smell of pine & cedar when you're in the woods takes you back in time.

All I have to do is walk to the end of my property and I'm in the 'wilderness'; being on the eastern most north-south road in Naples/ which borders the National Panther Preserve, we get a chance to see bear, deer, rabbit, skunk, racoon, squrrils(sp?), and more...

I think its wonderful.
But when people drill the entire area down to a few bad apples - I have to step in and tell the better side too. We have been out here for well over five years now and plan to retire in the same home. Barring any wildfires blowing through our livingroom.

Originally from New England (where drugs ARE rampant) Naples & GGE is one of the better places I've ever visited! Both my wife and I never plan to leave the estates/Naples area; it just suits our needs and is astheticly pleasing. They've put some $$$ into the boulevard median and built three real nice high schools, one valued at 45 million completed in 2004.

AVE MARIA, a 'planned' catholic community is being constructed between GGE and Immokalee and is sure to draw nice people into the close-knit community (not JCLDS closeness) but whole neighborhoods that June & Wally Cleaver would have moved into!

With growth, comes the bad apples. I love Golden Gate Estates!

[Christopherdent]

Judgejoe, I completely agree. There are very many lovely homes in Golden Gate Estates and they are mostly on large lots back from the street for privacy. It is quiet, natural and very pretty. The land and homes will be worth big bucks soon enough so go ahead and invest now.
I have lived here in the estates for 6 years and have good neighbors and friends around me unlike when i lived in the communities close-in with the wannabes and the never willbes on their postage stamp lots. They are the ones tying to give GGE a bad rap. Too bad losers if you can't afford to invest here.

[Roadrunner69]

judgejoe, I was in no way trying to put down Golden Gate Estates. The OP asked about the good AND bad, we only hear about the busts they make I'll bet for everyone they catch there's another one that isn't caught. I agree there are alot of nice homes and I do like the rural feel and I'm glad you enjoy it out there.

[tallrick]

It is overpriced for what it is. Otherwise it's a good area if you like low-lying space. I wanted to buy there in the early 90's but the prevalance of Miami investing attitude prevented the deal from going through. A friend lived there for years and was never a victim of crime. If you can get a good deal go for it, but remember, it is rural mini-ranchette living and not a gated crapmunnity.

[TANaples]

It seems to have quieted down in the past few years. All I ever heard on the news before was this bust and that bust (yes, grow houses) in Golden Gate. Not much anymore. I worked this past summer at an elementary school there. It was very, very quiet. All I saw were families with kids. Yes, I know it is a very big area, but this part, off Golden Gate Parkway, didn't seem bad at all.

[TANaples]

Originally Posted by judgejoe

Geez! Over 500 families in the Estates 17 grow houses in 5 years.
It ain't that bad for a rural area. I wish I had seen Naples 30 years ago; everyone says it was so nice back then. Its still real nice, quiet, the smell of pine & cedar when you're in the woods takes you back in time.

All I have to do is walk to the end of my property and I'm in the 'wilderness'; being on the eastern most north-south road in Naples/ which borders the National Panther Preserve, we get a chance to see bear, deer, rabbit, skunk, racoon, squrrils(sp?), and more...

I think its wonderful.
But when people drill the entire area down to a few bad apples - I have to step in and tell the better side too. We have been out here for well over five years now and plan to retire in the same home. Barring any wildfires blowing through our livingroom.

Originally from New England (where drugs ARE rampant) Naples & GGE is one of the better places I've ever visited! Both my wife and I never plan to leave the estates/Naples area; it just suits our needs and is astheticly pleasing. They've put some $$$ into the boulevard median and built three real nice high schools, one valued at 45 million completed in 2004.

AVE MARIA, a 'planned' catholic community is being constructed between GGE and Immokalee and is sure to draw nice people into the close-knit community (not JCLDS closeness) but whole neighborhoods that June & Wally Cleaver would have moved into!

With growth, comes the bad apples. I love Golden Gate Estates!

First of all, I thought they were kind of expensive. Second, I know the founder, the Domino Pizza guy, wanted a strict "catholic" community, but it seems they are moving a little away from that. I think that is a good idea if they really want to attract families, and seniors, to just a stable community. I was raised catholic and spent 12 years in catholic school. It's far too restricting if you want to follow that to the letter of the law with catholic philosophy. Just make it a good, family oriented community and it will do fine.

Again as far as Golden Gate, it seems to be changing. Maybe most of the grow houses have been pushed out? Maybe they have relocated to Lehigh Acres? That is all I ever hear about now on the news now, not so much Golden Gate.

[Mike Peterson]

Here is the crime report for Golden Gate Estates - 8/25/08 through 9/7/08

Deputies: Greeting Triggers Gunfire

A woman's walk to get her trash cans ended in a neighbor's arrest after she told deputies he fired a gun at her after she said hello.

Radley Pierre, 22, 56114th St. N.E., Golden Gate Estates, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and discharging a firearm in public.

Arrest reports say Renee Brandenburg told deputies that she was going to retrieve her trash cans from the street when she saw Pierre in his driveway and said hello to him.

Pierre made a derogatory comment to Brandenburg and then showed her a gun, reports said.

Pierre a aimed the gun at Brandenburg and began firing, reports said. She ran inside and called authorities, reports said.

Deputies found a black semiautomatic pistol on the roof of a car in Pierre's driveway, reports said.

Burglaries:

• 1440 8th St. NE, Thurs., between 10:44 and 10:46 a.m. Property taken: none. Entry: cut screen side garage door.

• 1460 8th St. NE, Thurs., between 10:45 and 10:46 a.m. Property taken: none. Entry: cut screen side window.

• 4285 16th Ave. NE, between 11 a.m. Mon., 8/25, and 12:30 p.m. Sun., 9/7, 12:30 p.m. Property taken: none. Entry: smash side window.

• 914 Grand Rapids Blvd., Wed., 8/27, between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Property taken: laptops, television, jewelry. Entry: pry rear sliding glass door.

• 1815 47th Ave. NE, Wed., 9/3, between 2 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Property taken: none.
Entry: pry side door.

• 4335 45th Ave. NE, Mon., 8/25, between 6 and 6:45 p.m. Property taken: air conditioning handler. Entry: unknown.

• 1449 Redhawk Lane (Adventure Training & Concepts), between 8 a.m. Wed., 8/27, and 11 a.m. Sat., 8/30. Property taken: lawn tractor, pressure washer; white 2006 utility trailer. Entry: cut lock front door/unknown.

Vehicle Burglaries:

• 384 Randall Blvd., (BP Gas Station), Tues., 9/2, between 12:50 and 1:10 p.m. Property taken: driver’s license, checkbook, currency. Entry: unlocked white 1998 Ford truck.

• 2699 Orange Grove Trail, between 6 p.m. Sat., 9/6, and 8:30 a.m. Sun., 9/7. Property taken: purse, cell phone, jewelry. Entry: unlocked passenger front door on a green 2004 Kia SUV.

Grand Theft Autos:

• 960 24th Ave. NE, Sun., 9/7, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Property taken: black 2005 Emerson trailer, gutter machine (Recovered). Entry: towed vehicle from driveway.

• 2825 10th Ave. SE, between 9 a.m. Thurs., 8/28, and 9:30 a.m. Mon., 9/8. Property taken:
maroon 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. Entry: unknown.

• 4333 20th Ave. NE, between 10 p.m. Wed., 8/27, and 6:30 a.m. Thurs., 8/28. Property taken: silver 2007 Honda Accord. Entry: unknown.

Also to Christopherdent, don't expect any are in South Florida to suddenly start shooting up in price. In case you hadn't heard there is a bit of a decline in home sales in many areas.