[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by raney3099

The Villages is a city, not a gated community.

Incorporated city.

[willbush]

Originally Posted by jswirs

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?

It's the impression that it's a gated community that keeps is safer;also believe the gates themselves with or without personnel offers a sense of security for those who don't realize this isn't a gated community;likewise the community watch another layer of indirect security although not a police force;appears these things are working; The Villages was rated by the FBI as the safest place to live in Florida. Link follows the list.
ccording to the FBI

Metropolitan Statistical Area Crimes Per 100,000 Inhabitants
1. The Villages, FL M.S.A. 2,116
2. Punta Gorda, FL M.S.A. 2,648
3. Naples-Marco Island, FL M.S.A. 2,703
4. Port St. Lucie, FL M.S.A. 3,246
5. Homosassa Springs, FL M.S.A. 3,350
6. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL M.S.A. 3,414
7. Sebastian-Vero Beach, FL M.S.A. 3,480
8. Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL M.S.A. 4,123
9. North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL M.S.A. 4,315
10. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL M.S.A. 4,323
11. Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL M.S.A. 4,509
12. Ocala, FL M.S.A. 4,980
13. Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL M.S.A. 5,027
14. Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL M.S.A. 5,125
15. Sebring-Avon Park, FL M.S.A. 5,236
16. Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL M.S.A. 5,444
17. Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL M.S.A. 5,791
18. Jacksonville, FL M.S.A. 6,147
19. Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL M.S.A. 6,418
20. Gainesville, FL M.S.A. 6,917
21. Panama City, FL M.S.A. 7,257
22. Tallahassee, FL M.S.A. 7,733
here's the link. Copy & paste is browser: Safest Places to Live and Retire in Florida | FloridaforBoomers.com

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by Buckeyes76

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

With stop sign 🛑

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

nope.


not enough break between cars


can't get my bugatti home

Then you didn’t buy enough home

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by finbackwail

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.

Gates exist to help prevent collisions of golf carts and cars. And they do that very well.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

Yep.

My last home was in a truly gated, golf course community...and that's pretty much the way it worked. It was actually a bit of overkill...in my honest opinion.

If the name(s) weren't already on your list (you kept up with it online), the guard would call the homeowner. If the homeowner didn't answer...tough luck.

Or if you said you were golfing, they would call the clubhouse to verify your tee time.

We had one particular guard that thought she was Hitler and the visitor line early every morning, from yard crews/house crews/Etc...was beyond ridiculous.

My yard guy and housekeeper said the guards verified identification information from every single person in the vehicle and this one...seemed to enjoy taking her time doing it.

I probably wouldn't have put up with it myself...regardless of how much I was getting paid.

Here you’re just another peon among the minions.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by manaboutown

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

You mean some people actually stop at stop 🛑 signs? WOW haven’t seen that yet.

[CTFORSBERG]

Originally Posted by EdFNJ

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.

That's exactly right, plus they cannot be truly gated as, in most cases, all the roads are public roads not private. It's for golf cart control (and to help sales)

[waynehal55]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

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.

This is true but, you have to stop at the gate and speak to an attendant before the gate arm is raised. Also a picture is taken of the car and license plate. If you plan on going to someone's home, the owner MUST either call before the arrival or enter the information into an updated computer system. This applies to all businesses - if not done they will be denied entrance. This also applies to the back gate.

[Shamp]

It would be nice if we had stickers that automatically opened the gates. Then we could give guests the cards!

[ColdNoMore]

Originally Posted by Topspinmo

Here you’re just another peon among the minions.

I have absolutely no problem being..."another peon among the minions."

In fact...I quite enjoy it.

I long ago, made my mark professionally in my industry...so I have nothing to prove these days.

[Waimola]

Stonecrest requires a license to get through the gate.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by ColdNoMore

I have absolutely no problem being..."another peon among the minions."

In fact...I quite enjoy it.

I long ago, made my mark professionally in my industry...so I have nothing to prove these days.

Laxative tester????
Horse inseminator????
Dog dewormer???

Actually it's a quote stolen from "Two and a half men"

[erojohn]

It just to slow traffic down and allowing Carts to cross. Talk about slowing down. Many treat round abouts as a race track. Some go 55 mph on Morse and BV. Slow down people we’re retired.

[KLBNJ]

You have it all right. Well stated and correct. The gates are not necessary along with the guards. Both serve no purpose.