Palmer Estates - How did they do that? (Phoenix: HOA, house)

[Corgi Dad]

Back in the 1960's, I visited some of my family in what I've since learned is Palmer Estates. It was a nice neighborhood and open to the public. I was in Phoenix last year and decided to go by their old house for a look. I was surprised to see that their street (N 2nd Ave) off Bethany Home Road was blocked by a gate. The neighborhood was apparently converted to a gated community some time ago.

I wonder how that happened; that is, how can public streets be privatized and the public is excluded? It must have involved a lot of public hoopla and legal issues. Does the HOA now maintain the streets?

I live in Raleigh now and it would be next to impossible to privatize public streets here for the exclusive use of the residents. There are a few gated communities around town, but they were built that way from the beginning.

[phx1205]

That is a really nice neighborhood. Beautiful homes on larger lots. The neighborhood isn’t closed off completely, they just closed off the street access from Bethany Home. Anyone can still access the neighborhood from Central Ave.

[Corgi Dad]

I now see that Berridge Lane off Central is not gated. Google Streetview. Wonder what the point was of gating 2nd Ave off BH. Too much through traffic?

[phx1205]

Originally Posted by Corgi Dad

I now see that Berridge Lane off Central is not gated. Google Streetview. Wonder what the point was of gating 2nd Ave off BH. Too much through traffic?

Yes probably people cutting through during rush hour. Central gets backed up heading south in the mornings. Well pre-Covid anyway.

[Corgi Dad]

Thanks for clearing up my confusion.