These days everyone is looking for gated communities. when you choose to live in a gated community is it because you want to feel safer? Of course it is.
But the scenario looks different. Gated communities are supposed to help keep us safer, and the truth is, the term "gated" is false security
The security guard himself is abetting thefts and such things. Can we really rely on security guard ?
In the so called safe apartments/gated communities murder count is increasing. Do we really come to know by any means what kind of people are living in the
community? If somebody is renting out his apartment/villa, do we ( or association) really have any control?
I think only real estate companies are benefitting by selling gated communities at high prices.
But are they really providing the much needed sefety and security? The so called amenities/facilities & exhorbitant maintenance cost really making one's life
easier? Do share your thoughts and experiences.
Do we really need gated communities?
Re: Do we really need gated communities?
gated communities are good only when houses are filled and it is full of like minded people.. otherwise, it is just a marketing gimmick for buying n selling empty plots or properties..
Re: Do we really need gated communities?
Gated communities are always costly. But not all the gated communities are really click. If it doesn't click, the money spent on a gated communities is pure waste compared to buying a decent BDA plot. If it clicks, then it is like a heaven.
There is lot of craze about these gated communities. If you see any private layout advt, they say it is a gated one, but if you really get into the details, you find lot of loop holes. E.g., I have seen a layout where the compound wall needs to demolished to provide road (access) to the layout plots adjacent to that, as there is no internal road access to these plots. This is one of gimmicks I came across. Certainly developers want to milk this craziness.
However, its not just the developers. Once the buyer becomes a owner, he hardly bothers about how to maintain it. I have seen pathetic maintenance in 80% of the Gated communities I came across. This is either because of the owners just bought the land for investment purpose and no plans to construct there. And so they are not going to bother to pay the maintenance.
Until and unless the community is filled up by at least 50 to 70 %, there won't be any proper maintenance. Also a majority of the owners should spent their time to tune the things. This is the case with apartments too.
Overall what I felt is, just don't invest the money in a gated community, unless you visualize at least some 50% of the owners construct the houses, or if the developer is going to take care of the maintenance for foreseeable period until the owners association can handle it on its own.
There is lot of craze about these gated communities. If you see any private layout advt, they say it is a gated one, but if you really get into the details, you find lot of loop holes. E.g., I have seen a layout where the compound wall needs to demolished to provide road (access) to the layout plots adjacent to that, as there is no internal road access to these plots. This is one of gimmicks I came across. Certainly developers want to milk this craziness.
However, its not just the developers. Once the buyer becomes a owner, he hardly bothers about how to maintain it. I have seen pathetic maintenance in 80% of the Gated communities I came across. This is either because of the owners just bought the land for investment purpose and no plans to construct there. And so they are not going to bother to pay the maintenance.
Until and unless the community is filled up by at least 50 to 70 %, there won't be any proper maintenance. Also a majority of the owners should spent their time to tune the things. This is the case with apartments too.
Overall what I felt is, just don't invest the money in a gated community, unless you visualize at least some 50% of the owners construct the houses, or if the developer is going to take care of the maintenance for foreseeable period until the owners association can handle it on its own.
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blrsiteseeker
- Posts: 508
- Joined: July 18th, 2009, 2:23 am
Re: Do we really need gated communities?
Gated communities have their advantages:
1. Usually amenities provided right at start and you don't have to wait years to see water or electricity. (compare to viswesvariah layout etc.).
2. For the same reason as above, occupancy in these layouts will be sooner than in a normal BDA layout.
3. Whether you agree or not, the security is higher than in a normal open site.
4. Most important thing for me is - you won't get a beedi shop / dhobi or vegetable shop next to your house. Since the sites are sold in separate chunks - one set for all these shops and others for residence only. IN a BDA layout, there is no knowing what will be next to yours, particularly if there is a small site next to yours.
5. THat is another point, they put like sites together in these gated layouts (at least in the ones we looked at), so you have sort of same kind of income groups living together. THis makes it easier, so one does not have to struggle to live up to the neighbours or the other way around too.
THis is not to say that a BDA layout does not have advantages, there are many. But each set of advantages will appeal to a different sets of people.
1. Usually amenities provided right at start and you don't have to wait years to see water or electricity. (compare to viswesvariah layout etc.).
2. For the same reason as above, occupancy in these layouts will be sooner than in a normal BDA layout.
3. Whether you agree or not, the security is higher than in a normal open site.
4. Most important thing for me is - you won't get a beedi shop / dhobi or vegetable shop next to your house. Since the sites are sold in separate chunks - one set for all these shops and others for residence only. IN a BDA layout, there is no knowing what will be next to yours, particularly if there is a small site next to yours.
5. THat is another point, they put like sites together in these gated layouts (at least in the ones we looked at), so you have sort of same kind of income groups living together. THis makes it easier, so one does not have to struggle to live up to the neighbours or the other way around too.
THis is not to say that a BDA layout does not have advantages, there are many. But each set of advantages will appeal to a different sets of people.
Re: Do we really need gated communities?
It is really frustrating to live in a fastest growing city like Bangalore ( or any metro), but face power outages, water problems, clean surroundings,safety etc. This is the basic reason the gated communities are becoming more popular.
But is it really helping the larger section of the people? The reality is only a small percentage of Inidans can afford them.
Is it a long term solution to the power, water, safety or infrastrucuture problems?
It is the state govt responsibility to provide these facilities (basic) to the people of the nation. Then why are we paying taxes and why do we need administration? Even the govt/politicians are promoting this as a quick fix to the problem. Those who live in gated communities one day may stop worrying about the larger section of the society.
Read this interesting interview.
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?238166
But is it really helping the larger section of the people? The reality is only a small percentage of Inidans can afford them.
Is it a long term solution to the power, water, safety or infrastrucuture problems?
It is the state govt responsibility to provide these facilities (basic) to the people of the nation. Then why are we paying taxes and why do we need administration? Even the govt/politicians are promoting this as a quick fix to the problem. Those who live in gated communities one day may stop worrying about the larger section of the society.
Read this interesting interview.
http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?238166
Re: Do we really need gated communities?
Fantastic question.I have been thinking on this for the past couple of months. Today when I came to the this site ( after long time ) you rekindled my thought process.
I did buy apartment in one of the gated communities. Over the past one year , reading discussions on our community yahoo forum ( As I live in aborad I still do not live in this property) I feel i got in to this mess without proper analysis.
By getting in to these communities , I am trying to avoid thes like the power, water, safety or infrastrucuture but in effect I am taking the role of govt for which I pay taxes . In the process of creaing this in the community by paying huge maitainance fee ( Any how the maintainance deposit given to builder during the purchace would have vanished by the time apaerment is handed over to community management team )
I have got so many thoughts in this topic , I do not want to take the time of the other members in the forum if you can give me your contact no , I can call you to discuss.
thanks
Ram
I did buy apartment in one of the gated communities. Over the past one year , reading discussions on our community yahoo forum ( As I live in aborad I still do not live in this property) I feel i got in to this mess without proper analysis.
By getting in to these communities , I am trying to avoid thes like the power, water, safety or infrastrucuture but in effect I am taking the role of govt for which I pay taxes . In the process of creaing this in the community by paying huge maitainance fee ( Any how the maintainance deposit given to builder during the purchace would have vanished by the time apaerment is handed over to community management team )
I have got so many thoughts in this topic , I do not want to take the time of the other members in the forum if you can give me your contact no , I can call you to discuss.
thanks
Ram
Re: Do we really need gated communities?
thts where most of problems arise.. since each one of them are of same kind of income group.. every1 thinks that they own the place and act cranky.. time to time, society have to put up with noisy members and notices dont make any difference to them..blrsiteseeker wrote:Gated communities have their advantages:private layouts too provide the same facilites as the gated community does! only BDA sites take long time to get amenitites , but the rates are way below market prices.. so, if one needs a place for immediate move.. new BDA layouts are never a option.1. Usually amenities provided right at start and you don't have to wait years to see water or electricity. (compare to viswesvariah layout etc.).nope.. does not seem true in all cases. there are so many well known layouts on city outskirts.. but the occupancy rates never cross 50% in most of the cases.2. For the same reason as above, occupancy in these layouts will be sooner than in a normal BDA layout.again, having a chowidkar does not ensure that site is safe!3. Whether you agree or not, the security is higher than in a normal open site.BDA sites has clear demarcation for residence and commercial purpose. its not easy to open up a beedi shop as per liking.. it might happen if one takes 20X30 site.. but in larger dimensions, it would not happen ..4. Most important thing for me is - you won't get a beedi shop / dhobi or vegetable shop next to your house. Since the sites are sold in separate chunks - one set for all these shops and others for residence only. IN a BDA layout, there is no knowing what will be next to yours, particularly if there is a small site next to yours.5. THat is another point, they put like sites together in these gated layouts (at least in the ones we looked at), so you have sort of same kind of income groups living together. THis makes it easier, so one does not have to struggle to live up to the neighbours or the other way around too.
Re: Do we really need gated communities?
Chandra
May be some one should ask Mr. RK Misra to refer the Bye-Laws of the Gated Community he is living. It should have clearly mention that, the community should work for the interest of the larger public and conduct the Eye-camp etc things. Other than this, the Bye-Laws won't be approved by the Registrar.
After all, as per the BBMP there are no gated communities allowed and public access should be allowed on these roads.
May be some one should ask Mr. RK Misra to refer the Bye-Laws of the Gated Community he is living. It should have clearly mention that, the community should work for the interest of the larger public and conduct the Eye-camp etc things. Other than this, the Bye-Laws won't be approved by the Registrar.
After all, as per the BBMP there are no gated communities allowed and public access should be allowed on these roads.