Urban Enclosure Movement: The Impact of Gating a Previously Non- Gated Residential Area

Gated and controlled access housing developments are commonly perceived as a desirable setting by homeowners and home buyers. However, it has been claimed that gating contradicts the concept of permeability, connectivity, and livability of cities. How gating affects residential satisfaction? Answering this question will be hard in the case of studying gated communities because gates and walls are interrelated with several amenities that characterize this type of housing. Therefore, the present research is a qualitative case study that explores the impact of gating a previously non-gated housing area. It highlights residents’ experiences, feelings, and perceptions of their residential environment before and after the installation of the gates. Results show that three domains out of five are positively affected by gating, specifically: (a) place identity; (b) privacy and environmental control; and (c) safety and security feelings. The findings indicate also that privacy and convenience of controlled access is a paramount advantage of gating more than protection from crime. Most importantly is that residents are used now to the benefits achieved from gating that they will hardly force it aside by the need to promote livable and sustainable city life.