Posted: January 18th, 2013 | Author: www.acrossthefence.com | Filed under: Gated Community, Master Planned Community, Planned Community, Private Community, Real Estate, religious community | Tags: gated community, master planned community, planned community, private community | No Comments »
Rendering of the Our Lady of Grace Church in the Planned Development in Maricopa, AZ
The Our Lady of Grace Parish in Macricopa, AZ received unanimous approval from from the town council earlier last year to break ground on a planned community in Maricopa. The planned community will be built around a new Catholic church that could seat up to 1500 people. Retail spaces, apartments, condos, and single family homes will be part of the housing makeup in the planned community.
For more information Our Lady of Grace Parish and their planned community, please visit the following links:
http://maricopacatholic.org/ourladygracechurch.org/newchurch/default.html
Catholic parish’s proposal for planned community on city council agenda | InMaricopa.com.
Posted: January 10th, 2013 | Author: www.acrossthefence.com | Filed under: clothing optional communitiy, Gated Community, Master Planned Community, Planned Community, Real Estate, Resort Community | Tags: clothing optional comunity, gated community, master planned community, planned community, private community, resort community | 1 Comment »
Probably not a big selling point in clothing optional communities
In our continuing quest to be the most comprehensive guide to private communities in the United States, we’ve added a new category of communities to the Across the Fence database: clothing optional communities. ”You mean nudist colonies? ” Well, not exactly. Clothing optional means that residents have the option to remain clothed, but it’s not required. There are a handful of clothing optional communities in the U.S. with the bulk of them located, for obvious reasons, in sunny Florida. The market for homes in these communities is surprisingly robust with less than average turnover due to the limited supply. If you’ve had it with bulky sweaters, puffy coats, and thick boots, check out the clothing optional communities on Across the Fence!
Posted: November 16th, 2012 | Author: www.acrossthefence.com | Filed under: Active Adult Community, Equestrian Community, Gated Community, Golf Course Community, manufactured homes, Master Planned Community, mobile homes, Planned Community, Private Community, Real Estate, Resort Community, Second Home, The Villages, Vacation Home | Tags: active adult community, age-restricted community, equestrian community, gated community, golf course community, master planned community, planned community, private community, real estate, resort community, second home, The Villages | No Comments »
The New Way to Spend Thanksgiving
Getting ready for Black Friday? For each review we publish on Across the Fence, we’ll email you a $5 Walmart e-gift card. Tell people what you think about the private communities you’ve visited or the one where you live! Offer good through Nov. 30, 2012.
Posted: November 15th, 2012 | Author: www.acrossthefence.com | Filed under: Active Adult Community, Gated Community, Master Planned Community, Planned Community, Private Community, Real Estate, Resort Community, Second Home | Tags: active adult community, age-restricted community, gated community, master planned community, planned community, private community, resort community | No Comments »
This post was contributed by guest blogger College Football Fan:
I'm voting for him, and her, and him, and them, and her, and him.........
The United States recently completed an election in which strong feelings were displayed by members of all political parties. An important way to display one’s political feelings is by placing political signs in a home or somewhere on the property. If a person lives in a planned community there could be restrictions which deal with placing political signs, or any signs for that matter, on the property.
If a display of political expression on one’s planned community property is important to a property owner, the time to determine the right to display political signs is before the property is purchased. When the paperwork is signed to buy property in a planned community, the accompanying Home Owner Association (HOA) documents detailing the restrictions will determine if one can or cannot post political signs on the property. The attitude of the planned community developers/HOA people is that once an individual signs the property documents he/she is aware of any and all restrictions regarding displaying political signs and the property owner has no right to complain. However, as a purchaser of property in a planned community, this writer found the information regarding what one can and can’t do is supplied later in the purchasing process and usually after one has made a commitment to purchase property. It is as though the planned community does not want one to know too much about the restrictions and guidelines so as not to spoil having any property sold.
Restrictions for displaying political propaganda on one’s property range from a strict prohibition of political signs to allowing political signs on the property. However, if one is permitted to display signs there may be limitations such as the number of signs that can be displayed, the size of the sign and the quality of the signs. All signs may be required to be of commercial construction. Further stipulations to be followed in planned communities include how early the signs can be displayed and when the signs have to be taken down. For example, one community may allow for the display of political signs up to forty-five days before the election and must be removed not later than seven days after the election. Different communities will have different times lines dealing with the display of political signs.
Some people love to display political signs. If there are prohibitions on placing such signs on your residential property, one can place their affection for a political candidate on a car. This writer is pleased for the prohibition of political signs on a property within the planned community. Such signs in a community make it look “tacky” and have the ability to create ill-feelings among neighbors.
Posted: November 7th, 2012 | Author: www.acrossthefence.com | Filed under: Active Adult Community, Gated Community, Master Planned Community, Planned Community, Private Community, Real Estate, Uncategorized | Tags: active adult community, age-restricted community, gated community, master planned community, planned community, private community, real estate | No Comments »
Which way to the co-housing community?
The New York Times ran an article several weeks ago describing a situation at a community in Bremerton, WA that is described at a co-housing community. Co-housing shares a number of characteristics similiar to any planned community, with the biggest differences being that it is a pedestrian-oriented community where residents take an active part in the community’s initial design. Additionally, residents prepare and share any number of meals together in a common kitchen area and perform most of the community’s upkeep themselves. There is a Co-Housing Association of the United States which provides information about co-housing communities and counts about 110 co-housing communities in the country. Interestingly enough, co-housing is growing in popularity for seniors who wish to live independently, but need the safety and security that comes with being part of a tight knit community.
This specific case centered around a community formally called Meadow Wood that originally started as an orthodox Christian c-housing community, but then evolved on paper into a less stringently religious community in order to attract condo buyers and preserve property values. However, there were charges of bias against residents who did not participate in the full extent of the religious activities and a Fair Housing Discrimination suit ensued leading to the events described in the article.
The bottom line is that anyone considering co-housing needs to think very carefully before entering into a living arrangement that depends on the high level of cooperation and sharing promoted by c0-housing. It won’t be for everyone.
Read more about the Meadow Wood story by clicking on the link below:
When Visions of a Christian Community Collide – NYTimes.com.
Posted: October 23rd, 2012 | Author: www.acrossthefence.com | Filed under: Equestrian Community, Gated Community, Golf Course Community, Master Planned Community, Planned Community, Private Community, Real Estate, Resort Community, Uncategorized | Tags: active adult community, age-restricted community, gated community, golf course community, master planned community, planned community, private community, real estate, resort community | No Comments »
"I am really getting so sick of people letting hunters through the gates..I mean, wasn't the point of having the gates to keep certain people out??
Much to the dismay of deer and families, there are certain communities that are allowing limited hunting within gates to manage out of control animal populations that are damaging vegetation. As can be imagined, the expected concerns about safety are raised in these situations, particularly in communities where there are families with younger children present. Additionally, people concerned about the threat to the animals are voicing opposition to the hunts.
To read more about two communities that are allowing hunting within the gates, click here:
UPDATE: Judge Allows Bow Hunting In Emerald Isle Gated Community.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/03/03/366926/in-gated-community-dont-pester.html
Posted: October 12th, 2012 | Author: www.acrossthefence.com | Filed under: Active Adult Community, Equestrian Community, Gated Community, Golf Course Community, Master Planned Community, Planned Community, Private Community, Real Estate, Resort Community, Second Home, Uncategorized | Tags: active adult community, age-restricted community, equestrian community, gated community, golf course community, master planned community, planned community, private community, resort community, second home | No Comments »
WHAT THE...!!!!
The Orlando Sentinel published an article recently about the Bella Collina development in Lake County, FL and the astounding bills property owners are getting as a result of the recent purchase of the development. Here’s an excerpt:
“A company led by Washington Redskins co-owner Dwight C. Schar bought Bella Collina from beleaguered real-estate developer Bobby Ginn in June. Now Schar’s group has begun selectively issuing collection notices to individual property owners for back payments that total as much as $109,000 per lot, which in some cases exceeds the lot’s current market value.”
Only about 40 houses have been built in the 1800 acre development that was designed to accommodate 900 homes. A previous owner who let his house go into foreclosure is actor Chris Tucker of the movie Rush Hour fame. He purchased his Bella Collina house for $6 million in better times, and then the bank sold it for $1.7 million this year. Another celebrity owner is pro golfer Nick Faldo who purchased a lot for $1.25 million, but it’s now valued at $70,000 for tax purposes.
Just something to think about the next time you get your HOA bill! Read the full article here:
Mansions for sale: Indebted Bella Collina mansions for sale in Lake County – Orlando Sentinel.
Posted: September 17th, 2012 | Author: www.acrossthefence.com | Filed under: Gated Community, Golf Course Community, Master Planned Community, Planned Community, Private Community, Real Estate, Resort Community, Second Home, Uncategorized | Tags: gated community, golf course community, master planned community, planned community, private community, real estate, resort community, second home | No Comments »
You may want to avoid playing golf near Jeff Fleming’s house. The Washington Post reports:
“Jeff Fleming, 53, is accused of firing at a pair of golfers at the 16th hole on Thursday, striking the one who hit the home in Reno. The golfer was treated for minor injuries to an arm and both legs.”
Nevada man accused of shooting golfer whose errant ball broke window at home near golf course – The Washington Post.
Posted: September 14th, 2012 | Author: www.acrossthefence.com | Filed under: Active Adult Community, Gated Community, Master Planned Community, Planned Community, Private Community, Real Estate, Resort Community, Second Home, Uncategorized | Tags: active adult community, gated community, master planned community, planned community, private community, real estate, resort community, second home | No Comments »
How many people did you say lived there???
Thinking that you want to move to a gated community to escape the riff-raff and hang with other like-minded champagne and caviar-type people? Not so fast! Apparently the housing downturn has unexpectedly created landlords out of people struggling to hang on to their large homes in well-known gated communities. The Florida Sun Sentinel reports that property owners who have difficulty paying mortgages or want a steady source of income are turning to the government to bring in rent and keep their homes occupied. In some cases, the arrangements have worked out fine. In other cases, not so much (22 people living in one house!). In one case, the community has not responded to the new residents with open arms:
“After a single mother and her nine children rented a house in the exclusive Isles neighborhood of Coral Springs, the homeowners association adopted an amendment to its governing documents stating: “No Section 8 or government leasing assistance is permitted.”
Which communities with homes eligible for Section 8 renters were mentioned in the article? Monarch Lakes, Greenacres near Palm Beach, Miramar’s Windsor Palms and Bellagio at Vizccaya, and the Isles in Coral Springs.
To see a full list of Section 8 approved housing to see if your community has any Section 8 homes, visit www.gosection8.com.
Click on the link below to read the full article in the Sun Sentinel:
Large gated South Florida homes rented by Section 8 tenants
Posted: September 12th, 2012 | Author: www.acrossthefence.com | Filed under: Active Adult Community, Master Planned Community, Planned Community, Private Community, Real Estate, Resort Community, Uncategorized | Tags: active adult community, age-restricted community, gated community, master planned community, planned community, private community, real estate | No Comments »
Are you on the list??
The International Foundation for Protection Officers published a piece on their website about gated communities and the security involved. They break out the types of gated communities into three categories:
1. lifestyle communities – centered around a specific lifestyle such as golf, equestrian, etc.
2. elite communities – for the rich or people who like to act like they are rich
3. security zone communities – mainly located in lower income or inner city areas and designed to be self-designated fortresses
While people who reside in these communities enjoy the sense of security and reduced traffic coming through the community, there are pros and cons to living in these communities. With regards to crime, there appears to be a slight benefit as noted in the piece and cited throughout referencing various research articles:
“The major question that is asked of gated communities is “Do they really keep crime rates down?” The answer seems to be yes, but only by very little. The city of Miami reports that “some forms of crime such as car theft are reduced, at least immediately after the streets are closed. However, data indicates that the long-term crime rate is at best only marginally altered” (Blakely, 1995, p. 1).
In gated communities, the trend is that crimes against the person go down and stay down in controlled access developments. This occurs because perpetrators do not want to go to an area that they are unfamiliar with and where it might be hard for them to make an escape. “According to preliminary research, crimes such as burglary drop in the first year or so of gating, but then rise back to the level of the areas outside”(Diamond 4).
Many people believe that the residents of gated communities are living with a false sense of security. According to Ed Cross, a real estate broker, “It’s a marketing gimmick; it’s a fad” (Diamond, 1997, p. 5). The codes to unmanned gates are also given out to numerous people who do not live in the community but have frequent access, such as pizza delivery boys. Many also argue that the communities cannot be as safe as they advertise. Many individuals wonder how far a security guard, who receives $9 an hour, will go to enforce internal laws on the private property. The security is only as good as the people who provide it.
There is also an issue on access to the communities by emergency vehicles. With more communities being built, and more security codes being used, it is becoming more difficult for emergency personnel to access the gates. “In East Lake Florida, rescue workers must rummage through a briefcase containing as many as 50 separate gate-opening devices for unmanned entries”(Diamond, 1997, p. 5). Many rescue workers also complain of time lost in maneuvering over-sized emergency vehicles into narrow gates.”
In short, there are many pros and cons, but ultimately, neighbors looking out for one another is the best way to be safe and secure within any community, gates or no gates.
security training | security officer training | security guard training | International Foundation for Protection Officers.
