What's So Great about Gated Communities

Another utopia seems to be biting the dust. The socialist kibbutzim of Israel have vanished or gone increasingly capitalist, and now the paranoid residential ideal represented by gated communities may be in serious trouble. Never exactly cool -- remember Jim Carrey in The Truman Show? -- these pricey enclaves of privilege are becoming hotbeds of disillusionment.

At the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association in Washington last week, incoming association president Setha Lowe painted a picture so dispiriting that the audience guffawed in schadenfreude. The gated community residents Lowe interviewed had fled from ethnically challenging cities, but they have not managed to escape from their fear. One resident reported that her small daughter has developed a severe case of xenophobia, no doubt communicated by her parents:

We were driving next to a truck with some day laborers and equipment in the back, and we stopped beside them at the light. She [her daughter] wanted to move because she was afraid those people were going to come and get her. They looked scary to her.

Leaving aside the sorry spectacle of homeowners living in fear of their landscapers, there is actually something to worry about. According to Lowe, gated communities are no less crime-prone than open ones, and Gopal Ahluwalia, senior vice president of research at the National Association of Home Builders, confirms this: there are studies indicating that there are no differences in the crime in gated communities and non-gated communities. The security guards often wave people on in, especially if they look like they're on a legitimate mission -- such as the faux moving truck that entered a Fort Meyers' gated community last spring and left with a houseful of furniture. Or the crime comes from within, as in the Hilton Head Plantation community in South Carolina where a rash of crime committed by resident teenagers has led to the imposition of a curfew.

Most recently, America's gated communities have been blighted by foreclosures. Yes, even people who were able to put together the down payment on a half-million dollar house can be ambushed by Adjustable Rate Mortgages. Newsweek reports that foreclosures are devastating the gated community of Black Mountain Vista in Henderson, NV, where "yellow patches [now] blot the spartan lawns and phone books lie on front porches, their covers bleached from weeks under the desert sun." Similarly, according to The Orlando Sentinel, "countless homeowners overwhelmed by their mortgages are taking off and leaving behind algae-filled swimming pools and knee-high weeds" in one local gated community.

So, for people who sought, not just prosperity, but perfection, here's another sad end to the American dream, or at least their ethnically cleansed version thereof: boarded-up McMansions, plastic baggies scudding over overgrown lawns, and, in the Orlando case, a foreclosure-induced infestation of snakes. You can turn away the Mexicans, the African-Americans, the teenagers and other suspect groups, but there's no fence high enough to keep out the repo man.

All right, some gated communities are doing better than others, and not all of their residents are racists. The communities that allow owners to rent out their houses, or that offer homes at middle class prices of $250,000 or so, are more likely to contain a mixture of classes and races. The only gated community I have ever visited consisted of dull row houses protected by a slacker guard and a fence, and my host was a writer of liberal inclinations. But all these places suffer from the delusion that security lies behind physical barriers.

Before we turn all of America into a gated community, with a 700 mile steel fence running along the southern border, we should consider the mixed history of exclusionary walls. Ancient and medieval European towns huddled behind massive walls, only to face ever-more effective catapults, battering rams and other siege engines. More recently, the Berlin Wall, which the East German government described fondly as a protective "anti-fascism wall," fell to a rebellious citizenry. Israel, increasingly sealed behind its anti-Palestinian checkpoints and wall, faced an outbreak of neo-Nazi crime in September -- coming, strangely enough, from within.

But the market may have the last word on America's internal gated communities. "Hell is a gated community," announced the Sarasota Herald Tribune last June, reporting that market research by the big homebuilder Pulte Homes found that no one under 50 wants to live in them, so its latest local development would be un-gated. Security, or at least the promise of security, may be one consideration. But there's another old-fashioned American imperative at work here, which ought to bear on our national policies as well. As my Montana forebears would have put it: Don't fence me in!

Comments

[leaglebob]

While I agree the notion of gated communities can be symbolic/emblematic of a dysfunctional society that has failed to manage its economy wisely, the notion that walls themselves are "evil" is a bit silly.

Evil as in "Hell is a gated community."==What then is Heaven? Yes, another gated community and for the same reason--to keep the unwanted OUT!

The constant inclusion of the Berlin Wall in this type of dogma is inapposite as well. That wall was built to keep people IN. The fact that the wall fell do to internal factors is a statement about the peoples dissatisfaction with their oppressive government.

Many medieval walled cities served to dissuade the smaller raiding parties than came thru. Not enough to stop a determined Roman Legion--but smaller groups, yes. Think of such walls as akin to locking a front door--would you build a house without a door or lock?

Gated communities are bad not because they are gated, but because of what is going on concomitantly in the greater society.

Crime within a gated community can be more effectively addressed thru security and curfew services--or not--as the citizenry elects to impose. Silly to think a gate would provide more than an option. No such option in the general society.

So, good article and the story of the traumatized little girl is a nice touch. As you said--more about her parents values again only concomitantly indicated by the gates.

But, its nice symbolism.

[splashy]

True security comes from the goodwill of your neighbors, and the kindness you exhibit toward others. If others do not see you as a threat or a target, because they see you as having so much more than everyone else, then you will not be in danger.

Spread the wealth, spread the love, spread the kindness and you will be safe most of the time. Others will come to your rescue when you need it, most of the time. The rest of the time you take your chances, just like everyone else does.

[Usiku]

It's a foolish notion to think a greater sense of community exists just because of physical barriers in these supposed mini-Utopias when the heart of man has been hardened against humanity, historically.

[RumiSouth]

Just last week, I was driving in Huntsville, AL past a billboard for a gated community called "The Village." A good thing I wasn't driving, because the logo almost put me in shock: The place is marketing itself with an old penny-farthing bicycle. I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP!!! Who are these people that WANT to live in the dystopian vision of Patrick MacGoohan's TV classic?!

http://www.osborneink.com

[nomadic]

Barbara,

I love your writing. You're one of the people I trust to relay how things are in the real world.
My wife and I recently returned from a lengthy stay abroad and were given very little time to find a place in our price range. We weren't real big on the gated community scene. My wife is a career military officer and we hated living on base too. In her 27 year career we lived on a base just once, for almost 3 years. We haven't done that since. It wasn't terrible but visiting friends and relatives had to get passes, access was limited to one gate... it was all too tedious.
So we settled on a place in the midst of a bunch of gated communities. Ours is not one of them. However, we see gates busted, pile-ups at returning rush hour and that limited access stuff is for the birds. We live in what was described by the guy who sold us this place, "The mini UN". We love it. We have great neighbors from school teachers to delivery people as neighbors and from quite a range of ethnic backgrounds. Next door we have a Thai couple who despite having an additional three cars in their drive way (they have 2) are as quiet as church mice. They're friendly as well. As are all of our neighbors so far.
Now, that said, across a road we almost boarder is one of the swankier gated communities. Houses start at about 100 k more than our own (and this house is pricey considering our income and that of most of our neighbors). That community has noisy parties, thundering car stereos and loud teenagers who (luckily) only occasionally use our neighborhood for short cuts.
Why would people who pay so much more for the homes allow all that racket?
Ungated is much better so far. Though I do wish the gated community would get it's residents to hold it down. Perhaps the noise is a reflection of their frustration.

[romdrom]

In the case of some of the gated communities near me, I am glad they lock those people away. I feel safer. Read "Real Housewives of Orange County."gak

[checkmoot]

This is really funny. In Vero Beach, Florida there is a gated community on the beach, high line and high priced with a sign proudly advertising its name......true story now...Gotta see it to believe it...PELICAN BAY.
What a hoot !!!!!!! Maximum security for sure.

[FOXYLADY]

iT'S ALL ABOUT "LIVING UP TO THE JONES'...TRYING TO BE THE "ELITE"..BUT, IF YOU HAVE THE $$$...."TO EACH HIS OWN"....

[Aunt Shecky]

Aw, those poor little rich folks. If they're
looking for sympathy, they know which page of the dictionary to look for it. As pour moi,
I leave you with the words of the great Ira
Gershwin: "I got plenty o' nothin' and nothin's plenty for me."

[jgreenleaf]

I have always thought that it's a good idea to keep the type of folk who want to live in a gated community behind walls. That way, they don't bother the rest of us.

I prefer to think of them fencing themselves in, rather than fencing the rest of us out.

[Truthortradition]

Living in a gated community ruled by a private Homeowner's association (HOA) has become a plague that is running rampant throughout this nation.
I believe it will eventually become a "hot" political topic, just like illegal immigration, just like gays. Give it time.
HOAs are quasi-governments where no oversight is available to protect homeowners from triple taxes or discrimination or tyranny.
Two years ago, AARP suggested a Bill of Rights for Homeowners that should be adopted by the federal government in order to protect all of us from the unregulated HOA industry. No one in the federal government paid attention.
Currently, the only people that profit from the industry are city governments, attorneys, management companies and vendors. Homeowners are picking up the tab for everything. It's like their taxes are being tripled and they don't even know it. They are frogs being slowly boiled to death.
And they don't have a clue how their rights are being stripped away from them as well, rights so precious to us like Homestead Exemption protection.
A lot of problems exist in HOAs because No one trains the HOA board volunteers but the attorneys who profit from every dispute in an HOA. And attorneys love disputes--it's what pays the bills.
Even worse, homeowners have no place to go for help when they are abused or sued by the HOA volunteer board. It's a perfect world for attorneys, but a nightmare for the homeowner. Even worse, the management companies hired by the innocent and trusting HOA board members are not licensed. They don't know the law and often, do not follow it. Hence, lawsuits abound and HOAs or individual homeowners pay the tab.
HOAs are a great concept, they just need oversight, just like everything else in this world.

[ibsteve2u]

Interesting article, in that I'd noticed that since most of the high-end gated communities have strict zoning laws the only means left for the residents of such places to compete - and often even communicate - with each other is by the tens of thousands of dollars of completely new work those "scary" landscapers do one, two, three or even more times a year...

[clarkbp]

It sounds familiar - hasn't the wall, moat and drawbridge thing been tried already? Seems like it didn't work before, either. Nothing like sameness to give us a false sense of security.

http://thefiresidepost.com/2007/12/04/the-modern-retreat-to-the-castle-keep/

[Archie1955]

Walls and fences not only keep people out they also keep people in. You wouldn't believe the number of countries in the world that are hoping you build your walls so high you can't get out. Oh joy!

[neil1946]

How could you possibly compare a wall built by Israel to defend against suicide bombers with those in suburban developments in the US? The comparison defies logic.

[BRUMALIA]

Totally Stepfordian! Gated communities lead to gated and closed minds.

[wrabbitt]

As a gated community, a minimum security prison has some of the same benefits. and, Free cable tv,three square meals a day,protection from outside influences, and, it costs taxpayers lots of money. Are we going to have several more Gated communities? How about a Drawbridge, and a moat? are we going in the wrong direction? Are these the first steps to a police state? Will you be willing to lose some freedoms, for better protection? There are lots of areas to build . what with all the jobs,gone and,factorys closed. Will this be a bigger wall between the Rich and poor?

[rjgwood]

That last comment is my fear precisely. Remember: gates can keep us in as well as keep someone out!

[Ooogee]

Amen Barbara...You can run but you can't hide from the society in which you live and to which everyday you are helping to shape and form. The question is, "What type of society are YOU helping to form?" "As ye reap, so shall ye sow".

[CologneCitizen]

Americans are scared easily. When they have made enough money, they turn themselves in. Happy to live behind bars. Who would chose to live in a sterile, secluded, look-alike neighborhood? I know you have the highest violent crime rate worldwide of comparable western countries. But this comes from your stupid gun laws and the NRA worshipping. Do we have crime in Europe? Yes. Do we have to be armed? No. Conflicts escalate a lot faster when there are weapons around. Our political system is similar to yours and probably not better. All I know is, we are not so scared and afraid of people just because they are poorer, not so well dressed or don't have a car. Poor doesn't necessarily mean criminal. You have too many afraidicats, home of the brave, not anymore.

[Bondaroid]

The gated community is nothing new. We have had one for years called Hollywood where some of the riches snobs in the world live. The people made and kept by the public theater goers that willingly hands them their money so they can afford the gates the live behind. The Streisand's, Taylor's, Hank's, Newman's, Redford's, Nicholson's, Spielberg's, great actors and actresses and those that a celebrities like the Cruise's or celebutantes like the Hilton's. All living behind gates of privilege because someone thought they were talented enough to entertain them. I guess you could say they are societies Monkey and we are the Monkey grinders and they owe their sole existence to us. So gated communities are bought because someone else bought them for the people living there, they just didn't happen over night. So if you don't want them to live behind the gate don't give them your money or better yet earn enough money to buy your own gate. As far as illegals, they are here illegally, the laws have not changed only the unwillingness of our elected government to enforce them. I do wonder why illegals fight so hard to stay in this country and not fight as hard in their country for a living wage from their elected leaders. If they had a living wage in Mexico and the third rate country was not so corrupt maybe they wouldn't risk their lives to come here to live in the shadows. Talk about gated communities and class warfare, that is Mexico.

[1will]

Does 'Ethnicaly challenging cites' mean dangerous crime ridden mismanaged cities? I have no desire to live in a gated community. I believe they are the bastion of liberals that think it's fine to pay a man with a gun to protect them but otherwise support gun control for everyone else.
Then again if I formerly lived in crime ridden Baltimore, Philly, Detroit, etc a gated community might look like a nice quiet place to raise a family.

[Asim]

Correction:
Just a sideline observation:the jewish kibbutzim is built on stolen Palestinian land from which they were ethnically cleanesed in 1947/8;AND the Apartheid Wall is also built on stolen land and is in violation of international law as the International Court of Justice ruled.

More details see WWW.PLANDS.ORG

[Asim]

Just a sideline observation:the jewish kibbutzim is built on stolen Palestinian land which they were ethnically cleanesed in 1947/8;AND the Apartheid Wall is also built on stolen land and in vilation of international law as the International Court of Justice ruled.

More details see WWW.PLANDS.ORG

[kappa08]

THANK YOU! I live in Florida and everything you described was dead on... NOBODY I want to live next to or that is cool lives in a gated community. Besides if "s*** goes down", can't you see those walls being breached first. It's like walking around with a punch me t-shirt.