What's the deal with all these gated communities?

So people were able to get rid of speedbumps by honking. Wow, I don't know whether to salute the honkers for defeating The Man or waggle my finger at them for acting like middle schoolers. ;-) But yeah, I know speed bumps are annoying.
The reason they would not install them in our old Denver neighborhood is because the authorities said it would be problematic for emergency vehicles, which is understandable. One thing they did do was periodically drop off one of those portable machines that clock your car and display your speed.

Gated communities were inevitable in South Walton when property values began soaring. People are drawn to the area because of its small town values, but bring their own synergy (and fears) with them from elsewhere. We had no gated homes in the Napa Valley until we began getting the second home McMansions. We call these the "ME" gates. Now they all try to outdo one another with the gates and intercoms. People with 25,000-sq. ft. houses have to build a freestanding guest house of 5,000 sq. ft. so they don't have to share space with their "loved ones." It is silly in that any person can usually step around the gates to access these properties and I believe they are simply an announcement that there might be good booty to be had in a house that is seldom occupied.

The sad thing about gated communities and "no trespassing" signs at the beach is that it flies in the face of the past spirit of the place. People always walked past your house or cut through your property on the way down to the beach. That was one way we made new friends or invited people to dinner when you bagged too many fish. You went to the beach to mix it up with people, not to get away from them. I was really turned off by all the "members only" and "private" signs at WaterColor, especially since Seaside is so generous to share their events with others, a greater sense of community.

The sad thing about gated communities and "no trespassing" signs at the beach is that it flies in the face of the past spirit of the place. People always walked past your house or cut through your property on the way down to the beach. That was one way we made new friends or invited people to dinner when you bagged too many fish. You went to the beach to mix it up with people, not to get away from them.

Donna, that's the sentiment that I feel when I see the gates, the reason why they don't sit well with me. I've always thought of the beach as the place that you go to escape from the things that make people want to erect gates around their homes in the first place! Gates at the beach smacks of bringing "excess baggage" with you to the place where it doesn't belong. Thanks for articulating my thoughts about this much better than I could.

Purely speculation on my part...

It wouldn't surprise me if the gated developments were being built by folks from South FL, who don't understand they aren't needed or wanted here. I agree that some buyers may bring their "home mentality" as well.

I've always maintained that if you don't feel safe without a gated community or a walled-in lot, that you should move somewhere else. Not being ugly, it's just that you can't have peace of mind if you've got a bunker mentality.

Our cottage happened to be a new gated community when we bought it. The gates did not influence our decision either way, nor can I say I think about them much today. We just liked the cottages and the way the community looked, in large part because it was a small quiet unpretentious community -- gates don't necessary suggest pretentiousness. The gates were open during the day and closed at night. My only concern is how we'll have pizza delivered in the evening if we ever order pizza to be delivered. (I think we'll figure that one out).

Our cottage happened to be a new gated community when we bought it. The gates did not influence our decision either way, nor can I say I think about them much today. We just liked the cottages and the way the community looked, in large part because it was a small quiet unpretentious community -- gates don't necessary suggest pretentiousness. The gates were open during the day and closed at night. My only concern is how we'll have pizza delivered in the evening if we ever order pizza to be delivered. (I think we'll figure that one out).

The bigger problem is finding someone to deliver pizza. I know what some of you are going to say, but I find their food to be as tasty as their customer service.

Quite often having a gate is simply marketing that says "we're upscale/exclusive".

If you have a guard/patrol that acually monitors activity, that is real security, otherwise a gate just keeps out the lowlifes looking for a DVD player to trade for crystal meth.

Gates in SoWal are about marketing and keeping the riff raff out, rather than real security. I understand the appeal if it is your second home and you live far away.

I can foresee a day when many more gates/security are added in SoWal. A challenge to the ideas of openness fostered by New Urbanism.

Speaking of gated communities, have any of you tried to drive into Wild Heron. Now that is security. Realtors cannot even show property in Wild Heron (problem in my opinion) without being escorted by the listing agent.

SJ My neighbor is an agent for Wild Heron. He is a great guy and will get you in any time. His name is Bob Debellis. Tell tell him you are a friend of the hutch. I think this weekend they are having a showing of model homes and giving away prizes. Business must be down.

the hutch

Gates & fences suck!

Just my humble (but always correct) opinon.

Gates & fences suck!

Just my humble (but always correct) opinon.

But what about my fence that keeps Molly safe and sound????

But what about my fence that keeps Molly safe and sound????

Different kind of fence with a "real" purpose.


But I am a sucker for "old" fences- picket and wrought iron and with neat patterns. The kind that would never be mistaken for the kind to keep anyone out- just pretty. And welcoming!

But I am a sucker for "old" fences- picket and wrought iron and with neat patterns.

Me too, Jdarg! Even though I don't choose to live in a gated community, interesting fences can be cool. Always wanted to make a photo coffee table book of great old fences along the US roadside.

I'm not sure gates in SoWal accomplish that much besides projecting an image, but really, image is all you have to sell when you are developing a new community without any previous history. And whether it's for the perception of security or the projection of status, there's a segment of society that obviously demands those gates, because otherwise developers wouldnt bother to put them in.

Any criminal worth his salt can get into practically any house, gated or not. Real security comes in the form of alert, concerned neighbors in a good community. Luckily the majority of thefts in SoWal probably have more to do with renters than with actual burglars. The door to my beach house was left wide open for 2 weeks (!) by a negligent contractor once, and nothing was touched. And I'm right near 30a.

I understand the "image" thing and why all (most) of you don't like the gates. I never considered myself a "Gated Community" kind of person. However, I now live in a small development of 50-lots, located...behind a gate!

But now that i'm now on the other side of that gate, I really like it. I suspect that it cuts down on a lot of traffic. You know, otherwise good folks just wanting to cruise through and check things out, especially in the busy tourist season. But it's really nice to hang out with the kids and neighbors and not have any cars pass by. It's nice and quiet.

My 2-cents; easy on the flames.

My only concern is how we'll have pizza delivered in the evening if we ever order pizza to be delivered. (I think we'll figure that one out).

I don't think pizza delivery will be much of an issue because--as Joe put it--pizza delivery guys in SoWal will be as rare as rocking horse manure. With SoWal's cost of living, how...pray tell...is a guy who makes $8.00 and hour and will be spending north of $2.50 per gallon (yeah, I think gas is going up too) going to live in the hood--tips aren't THAT good in those gated communities. Even in the "lower-to-mid-upscale" communities pizza places are offering $$$ sign-on bonuses for drivers to no avail. So I reckon it won't be delivery, it will be DeGiornos from here on out.

(Then again, there's always the chance that Dr. Botox's teenage son can deliver pizza in dad's Porsche Carrera 911 after school to make some extra pocket change on the side. :roll: )

A challenge to the ideas of openness fostered by New Urbanism.

Yes.
New Urbanism is devoted to place-making, and small-town walkability, then there is this other vacationing mindset which wants to completely get away from the outside world: no traffic, no riff-raff.
Cars are an annoyance to both of these schools of thought.
I can really understand how someone would want to reduce traffic where they live, and would be interested in exploring ways to accomplish this.

Yes.
New Urbanism is devoted to place-making, and small-town walkability, then there is this other vacationing mindset which wants to completely get away from the outside world: no traffic, no riff-raff.
Cars are an annoyance to both of these schools of thought.
I can really understand how someone would want to reduce traffic where they live, and would be interested in exploring ways to accomplish this.

It already was accomplished--we called it "the early 1950's."

I too hate the gates - but when I brought it up at a homeowners meeting once - I was told without the gate we had too many people going to the beach and parking in our area including peoples driveways and parking spaces.

That's exactly why our neighbors want to add a gate. There are too few public beach accesses. One of our neighbors is a contractor, so we always have our walkover back up less than a week after a hurricane. Then non-owners try to use our walkover because it's the only one around. The streets south of 30-A are so narrow that there's hardly enough room for the owners and their guests to park, much less outsiders. There's also a boatload of new developments north of 30-A with no beach accesses other than the few public ones. So they try to use the one we paid for. And additionally, what if a non-property owner trespasses on our private beach access, falls, and gets injured? Does that mean a lawsuit? The gates barring non-owners from using our privately-paid-for access prevents those hassles. Why should my neighbors and I spend about $10K each in the past year for a private access when the county hasn't provided enough public accesses, not to mention our additional boatload of tax dollars to pay for our share of the rebuilt public accesses?

BR...please just put a lock and key on that access and that way the outsiders will not mistake it as public.

BR, you don't keep a shotgun at this house too, do you?

Methinks Donna's excellent post deserves re-reading. Exerpt below:

"The sad thing about gated communities and "no trespassing" signs at the beach is that it flies in the face of the past spirit of the place. People always walked past your house or cut through your property on the way down to the beach. That was one way we made new friends or invited people to dinner when you bagged too many fish. You went to the beach to mix it up with people, not to get away from them."

'Be darned....I'm missing that 'spirit' thing. Lots of folks have walked through my property to get to the beach...but I've never been offered a "hello", "thank you" or "kiss my fanny"...much less any fresh fish.

BR, you don't keep a shotgun at this house too, do you?

When I'm alone, I always have a gun with me - except on school property. That's illegal, even if it's in the trunk of my car. I'd be pretty vulnerable if my car broke on the way to the beach and I couldn't call for help. It's hard to get a cell signal in south Alabama.

Just like GVM's experience, I'm always courteous to the people who trespass in our beach neighborhood and say hello, but they never respond and rarely acknowledge my presence. They know they're trespassing and thus are trying to be invisible.

South Walton is changing...all this talk of "gates, trespassing, outsiders, riff-raff" and the need and desire for gated and locked communities blocking access to the beach reminds me of what happened in the earlier days of Destin--and we all know how well that turned out. It's like deja vu all over again.

P.S. Of course one way to get around all these locked gates and blocked beach entrances would be to stomp through the dunes.

The ultimate gates on 30a maybe at Alys Beach-they are constructing 4 massive 30 feet high reinforced concrete guard towers on the east and west entrances to Alyc beach on 30A.

Does anyone know if it is true that they will be manned 24/7 by royal guards in armor with swords, cross bows and cannon?