Why the wrought iron fencing in front of older tract homes? (Los Angeles: real estate, crime)

[BeauCharles]

Greetings from the wilds of Hicktown, NorCal. I like to check real estate ads all over the state just to get an idea of how prices are (and realizing how ridiculously cheap my area is by comparison). I've noticed a great many homes in the Los Angeles area have what appears to be wrought iron fencing, often with some sort of cinder block or masonry posts. Some just have ugly old chain link. These are just run-of-the-mill tract homes in the San Fernando Valley or modest suburbs - often built in the 1950s and 1960s. Is there are reason for so many having these? Is it for some sense of security (in a big city)? To be honest, they look rather bad. For some reason when I see so many it makes a street look...dangerous. Or somewhat low class/tacky. Anyway, just curious.

[Caladium]

Not exactly sure what you're talking about, but there was a time when wrought iron fences were fashionable. People thought it added a Mediterranean cachet.

[BeauCharles]

Well, like this street in Valley Glen (there are many like it). Lots of metal fencing and driveway gates on modest tract homes that didn't originally have it. Its very rare to see it up here in similar neighborhoods. Not unheard of of course - the old man who lives next door to me has it in his front yard so his three yappy Chihuahuas can bark at passing kids on bikes.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=13817...12,165.39,,0,0

You can see one side of the street has a lot, the other side not so much. These actually don't look too bad - others I saw were a weird mish-mash of fencing types and styles that was kind of jarring. No continuity which made the neighborhood look kind of weird.

[BRinSM]

the neighborhood i live in has some of these types of fences as well, but not many. however, when i went to go visit a friend who lives in van nuys, it seemed nearly all the houses had these fences. my guess is that these fences became popular the same time as bars on windows (think 80s/early 90s) when crime was much worse all over the region. i'm guessing it's a safety thing. in fact, my neighbor asked me last year if we wanted to go in on a fence with them that would cover both our houses. i don't see the need since i probably would never close mine anyways because it would make coming and going such a chore.

[behindthescreen]

For added privacy, keep the neighbors on their side and detour solicitors from coming in.

[BeauCharles]

Originally Posted by BRinSM

the neighborhood i live in has some of these types of fences as well, but not many. however, when i went to go visit a friend who lives in van nuys, it seemed nearly all the houses had these fences. my guess is that these fences became popular the same time as bars on windows (think 80s/early 90s) when crime was much worse all over the region. i'm guessing it's a safety thing. in fact, my neighbor asked me last year if we wanted to go in on a fence with them that would cover both our houses. i don't see the need since i probably would never close mine anyways because it would make coming and going such a chore.

Originally Posted by behindthescreen

For added privacy, keep the neighbors on their side and detour solicitors from coming in.

Ah... makes sense. Van Nuys streets were the one's I was noticing it the most on. Again, I'm just curious about real estate everywhere (and using Streetview). Have no particular reason for looking at them.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by behindthescreen

For added privacy, keep the neighbors on their side and detour solicitors from coming in.

Keeps the kids and your dogs in, and keeps the kids and dogs you don't want in, out.

Owners are often unaware, as they pay much cash for and have these fences installed, that they are making a reasonably decent looking place instantly hideous. Especially with that ghetto black iron with the gold tips.

[Fontucky]

My chain link fence keeps the dog from becoming a Freightliner hood ornament, and the locked sliding gate keeps the Mormons and J-Wits out of my a/o.

[LABornandRaised]

I installed a white picket fence and it does the same job as those fugly chain link/wrought iron fences. Ever since I installed my fence, I rarely ever get a solicitor and my gate is not locked. One of my neighbors actually gave me a pumpkin pie for putting up the fence. I still cannot figure out how anyone ever thought chain-link fences were in style.....ever.

[bouncethelight]

My grandfather put a very expensive cement block wall all the way around his property in the 1950's, and it's still standing today. Another relative just installed one of those ugly plastic fences - six feet tall in places - and expensive - but hideous. They're meant to look like wood - but in reality they look like what they are - shiny white plastic! And I bet it's still standing in 2050.

There are some really beautiful fence styles out there. Unfortunately every era seems to have just as many ugly styles of fences.