Gated communities in America: Walling out the world?

Gated communities-enclaves of homes surrounded by walls, often with security guards-are becoming increasingly popular in America. This article introduces and analyzes findings of a Fannie Mae Foundation-sponsored panel on gated communities held at the 1997 Association of Collegiate Schools of Planni...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Housing policy debate 1997-01, Vol.8 (4), p.867-899
Main Authors: Lang, Robert E., Danielsen, Karen A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cities and towns
City planning
Community
Community development
Community life
Form
Gated communities
Housing
Individuals
Land use
Land use/zoning
Neighborhoods
Residential segregation
Security measures
Segregation
Segregation, Social
Self-interest
Social conditions
Social costs
Social impact
Social research
Society
Suburban
Suburban areas
U.S.A
United States
Zoning
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Gated communities-enclaves of homes surrounded by walls, often with security guards-are becoming increasingly popular in America. This article introduces and analyzes findings of a Fannie Mae Foundation-sponsored panel on gated communities held at the 1997 Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning annual conference. A key finding is that many people choose to reside in gated communities because they believe that such places reduce risk, ranging from the mundane (e.g., unwanted social exchanges) to the high stakes (e.g., declining home values). In many ways, gated communities deliver what they promise, by providing an effective defense against daily intrusions. However, some of their benefits entail a high social cost. A sense of community within gated communities comes at the expense of a larger identity with the region outside. Gated communities manifest and reinforce an inward-focused community culture, where the tension between the individual and society tilt toward self-interest.
ISSN:1051-1482
2152-050X
DOI:10.1080/10511482.1997.9521281