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Wow -- a ten year old thread.
No...I worked as a city planner and saw what they become. It partly has to do with the way they are designed and managed (I suppose there are exceptions) and partly with the people who choose to live there (ditto on exceptions). I know some Americans who live abroad in "compounds" inside countries where security could be an issue and it insulates them from the actual country they chose to live in. The same insulation along with a dose of fear and privilege seems to permeate gated communities. Why not live in a minimum security prison or some sort of military base? A lot of the security is an illusion...and a pain.
It depends. If I lived in a major urban areas, I would prefer a gated community to be safe from crime and to offer more privacy, and these often means we have our own pools and gyms that only we can use and the gate can keep others out.
In a more rural area, a gated community would be needlessly elitist and not worth the price. My ideal living would be in a rural areas with lots of land where I can have bonfires, shoot guns, etc on my own land and be far away as long as I'm 30 minutes from town. My second kind of ideal life would be in a suburban gated community with friendly neighbors that know you.
When I lived in the Baltimore area, many apartment complex that were not fancy by any means were gated including the one I lived in. They did offer privacy and more safety. For example a criminal is less likely to break into a house behind a gate than a house they have much easier access to. If I lived in the New Orleans area again I would also look for a gated community unless I'm far enough from the city like on the Northshore.
The illusion of security is ridiculous. I can and have driven my car without having the right code or opener to let myself. In fact, when I had a job doing deliveries I would do it all the time.
It depends. If I lived in a major urban areas, I would prefer a gated community to be safe from crime and to offer more privacy, and these often means we have our own pools and gyms that only we can use and the gate can keep others out.
In a more rural area, a gated community would be needlessly elitist and not worth the price. My ideal living would be in a rural areas with lots of land where I can have bonfires, shoot guns, etc on my own land and be far away as long as I'm 30 minutes from town. My second kind of ideal life would be in a suburban gated community with friendly neighbors that know you.
When I lived in the Baltimore area, many apartment complex that were not fancy by any means were gated including the one I lived in. They did offer privacy and more safety. For example a criminal is less likely to break into a house behind a gate than a house they have much easier access to. If I lived in the New Orleans area again I would also look for a gated community unless I'm far enough from the city like on the Northshore.
Oh A gated apartment complex, let me see:
1.Did someone prop open the gate with a rock, you know while they were carrying stuff in/out.
2.Using the intercom box and get somebody--anybody! "I am making a delivery to Apt 203, but they are not answering, can you please buzz me in."
3. Don't look sketchy.
How is that for gated apt security. The illusion of safety.
Absolutely not. First, I'd never live in an area I felt was so dangerous such things were needed. Second, I won't live anywhere with an HOA, which I'm pretty sure rules out any gated communities.
I agree with all of the above, plus gated communities usually equal homeowners associations and cookie cutter homes.
Maybe where you live.
I'd prefer a gated community.
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