For many residents, the most obvious advantage to a gated community is security. As we mentioned earlier, community gates may be staffed with guards or may open with the use of technology, including key cards, remote controls, and security codes. Some may also be augmented with video surveillance or guards patrolling the neighborhood. There is little scientific consensus on the extent to which gated estates reduce crime.
A 2013 study published in The Oxford Handbook of Environmental Criminology found that gated estates experienced 33% fewer burglaries than non-gated communities, but a different study from the University of South Florida the previous year found that a gated estate appeared to have little effect on burglaries. Researchers have also barely scratched the surface regarding the rates at which gated estates experience other kinds of crime, or the extent to which they might drive criminal activity into surrounding, often lower-income neighborhoods. That said, even if their statistical effect on crime rates is nominal, gated estates still bring a perception of safety for the residents – which might be particularly useful in neighborhoods that were low-crime to begin with. As with any other private property, entering a gated estate uninvited is illegal, but having a physical barrier to your neighborhood can provide more emotional reassurance than reading up on local trespassing laws.
Alongside this sense of privacy, these neighborhoods can also foster a real sense of warmth and community. In contrast to heavily populated areas where residents may never get to know their neighbors, having fewer people in your neighborhood can make it easier to recognize, trust, and befriend one another – not to mention community events arranged for the residents, like picnics, movie nights, holiday festivals, and more. Of course, as with almost every aspect of a gated estate, there are two sides to the coin: Where one person sees privacy and belonging, another might see enclosure and isolation. On a bigger scale, life inside the gates can also leave some residents feeling closed off from the wider cultural community in which they live. The fees associated with gated communities can have also the effect of grouping people of the same socioeconomic status together, and leaving others out. Like most features of a gated estate, this can be seen as a negative or a positive. At Gated Estates Asia we value community and social responsibility as well as aesthetic and privacy. We believe you can have the best of all worlds.
For a free consultation or private viewing, contact us at: info@gatedestates.asia
