Is this really a gated community?
 

Hi folks, We have been here for 8 months now, and my comment / question is; The Villages calls themselves a gated community, which technically it is. However, anyone can come through the gates, either by pressing the red button in the residents lane or going through the visitor lane. A true gated community has resident stickers with bar codes on the vehicles which allows access. I understand that when the red button is pressed a picture of the vehicle is taken, don't know if that is really true, but that does not do much to add to security. Please don't misunderstand, I don't have a problem, it just seems to me that the gates, along with the guards, don't make this a true "gated community". Further, I question the need for the gates, guards and guard shacks since they do not seem to be making anything secure. What am I missing here?

I think you nailed it.

AFAIK they don't and they def aren't. Where did you see The Villages advertised as a true "gated community?" The gates are mostly only for traffic control and to allow golf carts a running chance for a free 3 seconds to cross but not for security.

Use the search function. Enter "gates" and choose titles only. Lots of discussion on this topic.

Where and when did The Villages call themselves a gated community? I think that would be false advertising. Can you cite a source for the information?

Why would anyone want to do that as it would eliminate 50 Costco, Trader Joes and dog poop threads! :1rotfl:

I have never seen any material from The Villages that claims this is a "gated community". It is a community with gates but the roads are all county roads with the exception of the roads in the CYVs. In a true "gated community", the roads are owned and maintained by the community, not the county. The gates in The Villages are primarily for traffic flow control where the MMPs cross in front of the entrances to the various Villages. Without the gates, golf carts would be in jeopardy.

PLUS could you all see how many more accidents we would have??? The gates AND the round abouts are for traffic control. IF you want a true gated community perhaps a Dell Webb or similar would be perfect for you! Mostly the folks "manning" the gates are they to give directions or information (that's why the "visitor's" lane). There is a purpose despite many not seeming to see it.

I wouldn't call the Del Webb community on Rt 441 a true gated community either. They have a restaurant that is open to the public, and anyone can just drive up to the gate and say they are going to the restaurant. Same situation at Stonecrest.

Without the gates, golf carts would be in the frogger game. You wouldn’t get 3 lives.

I did not say TV is a "true" gated community...please re-read my post. This is a oxymoron, since TV is a community with gates, but it is not a gated community.

The answer is no, TV is not a gated community. As OP mentions, more than gates are needed for a “gated community”.

You stated that they call it "a gated community"

My son lives in a true gated community, although it is not in a high or even medium crime area it has 24 hour "armed" security at the entrance. There are two lanes leading up to one gate, the owners have a remote, guests have to talk with security to get it. It is meaningless, you can say you are there for an open house or to look at the exterior of a home for sale, going to pick up a set of clubs, meeting for golf, or just say your visiting a son or parent and they let you in. A true criminal will get in wherever they want, be it here or there.

What you describe is not the way all gated communities work. With many gated communities, you are not going to talk your way in. I have lived in one such community and unless your name was on a list or the guard contacted the resident, you were not getting in through the front gate. This does not mean you could not find a place to climb over the walls.

The Villages does not call itself a gated community. Once you get that part straight, the rest of your concern no longer exists - whether a 'true" gated community or otherwise.

May it could be described as a "stop gate" community; you know, like "stop sign" and "stop light".

:1rotfl: exactly!

This is not a gated community, but a community with gates.

No, its a community that uses gates as traffic control devices--can't fathom the reason for having manned gates helter/skelter,IMHO do away with the manned gates--one of the bushiest gates in TV ,St. Charles & Buena Vista is unmanned, the same goes for the gate @ Pinellas Pl & 466a

Yes, I stated a gated community, not a "True" gated community. I omitted the word "True" in my post. Please read again.

Has to do with sales, of course. Gated community permits higher real estate value and enables small discount on home owners insurance. Nothing but a sales tool.

The Villages is not a gated community, it is a deeded community. Gates are there to control traffic.

When I first visited a friend here back in 2005 off of Morse, we had to stop at the gate to her Village give our name which was on a list and wait for the guard to call her to confirm we were allowed to visit before he would open the gate for us to enter. Therefore at least part if not all of TV was a gated community at some point.

OP stated “... The Villages calls themselves a gated community, which technically it is.“ This is not true! The Villages have NEVER called themselves a gated community!

While you might have spoken to someone over the intercom at the gate (which are all pretty much gone now), if the roads were county roads then they cannot deny you access.

Probably when the roads were still private and before being sold to the county?

Neighbors who have been here for over 15 years, have told me that the original plan was to make each village a truly gated community, but when the infrastructure was sold to the county and thus became public...this was no longer legal.

Which makes sense, because who could imagine a gate on say 466...that you had to be a resident to use? :shrug:

Your are correct, it is not a true gated community. The roads are maintained by the county and access can not be denied. However, a picture is taken of every car that goes thru a gate and if there is a problem, the bad guy's car is available to the police. Next best thing and the bad guys know it.

TV is a community with gates, not a gated community. The roads are owned maintained by the county, therefore driving on the roads is a public right.

This is not a gated community. I was a sales rep here for almost 10 years and never sold it as gated. Anyone can drive around. The gates are used for information, slowing traffic down for golf cars and a possible deterrent.

4 or 5 4” speed bumps would do the same at a much lower cost

Most homes in TV are accessible from multiple points either by golf cart or local roads/streets.

The only place I have ever heard the question about being gated is here on TOTV.

Perhaps, for some, a self ascribed status.

Theres cameras at many gates and it gives the illusion of being gated. People manning the gates can keep an eye on what is going in and out. I had a visitor that called me and asked how she gets thru the gates on DelMar. That says it all.

nope.


not enough break between cars


can't get my bugatti home


:ho:

Welcome new poster. Keep up the good work.

The Villages is a city, not a gated community.

:ohdear:

Gates are there mostly for traffic flow

Gated community
 

It is good the folks at the gates have jobs but all a waste of money. Gates,shacks,buttons etc. Anyonecand everyone can get into the Villages. They do have good Community patrol but they could give the gate keepers jobs elsewhere and save alit of money for other things.