Gated Communities

5/21/2018 Gated Communities

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GATED COMMUNITIES

Prof. O. Gakuru

Christopher Kiboro


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Global Trends in Socio-economic and Urban

Development

Intensification of incorporation of developing countries

into urbanized global society

Population growth projections estimate that by 2030 the

world population will be over nine billion people

Ninety percent of this population will be urbanized

(Wichmann, 1995)

Developing countries are rapidly being incorporated intothis global process


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It is projected that by 2025, four-fifths of all city dwellers

in the world will be living in developing world

Similar trends are visible in Kenya. Kenya is experiencing

rapid population growth and increased urbanization

The rate of urban population growth in Kenya stands at

4.2 percent annually (World Bank, 2012)

This is twice the rate of rural and total population growth

rates.

Nairobi has a total population of nearly 4 million people

and Mombasa nearly one million people.


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This phenomenon is manifested by the rapid expansion

of cities as centers of wealth creation and consumption.

For example, the bulk of the goods produced in rural areas

is largely consumed by the urban population.


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Needs of Urban Population

The urban population has got various needs. These

include:

Housing

Infrastructure

transport, water, sanitation, etc

Food

However, it always appear that population growth

outmatches the provision of essential facilities and services


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In Kenya, available evidence indicates that

although the demand for these services is growing,

a gap exists in providing these services. For

example the existence of slum settlements,

spontaneous peri-urban settlements (that are

unplanned and unregulated) and congestion is a

clear indication of the gap.


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Housing in urban areas in particular has almost entirely

been provided by private sector.

Government has also attempted to meet the housing

demand for its employees but not adequately


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Types of Housing/Dwelling in Urban Centers

Dwellings in urban centers can broadly be classified into

Housing Complexes, Estates and Suburbs. In addition, the

type of housing could either be low income housing or high

income housing.

The common types of housing in Nairobi city are:

Slums- for the urban poor


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Low-cost government housing (for employees and tenant-

purchase schemes)

Tenant-purchase private housing (commonly found in the

estates and occupied mainly by the upper and middle-

class)

Peri-urban private housing (these can be both high and

low-cost housing that are for all classes but mainly the

middle-class.

Gated Communities (Largely for the high income group)


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Gated Communities

Definition:

Gated communities are residential areas with restricted

access such that normally public spaces have been privatized.

Access to gated neighborhoods is controlled by physical

barriers in the form of walled or fenced perimeters and gated

or guarded entrances (Blakely and Snyder, 1997)


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Gated communities can include new housing developments or

gentrification of older and often dilapidated residential areas

with barricades and fences. Enclosed neighborhoods prohibit

public access to roads, sidewalks, parks, open spaces, and

playgrounds that initially were open to the public


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History of Gated Communities

Gated communities are developing at a quick pace globally

and have become an important product for the real-estate

industry.

Although gaining momentum and becoming widespread

phenomenon especially in urban areas in developing

countries, gated communities are not a new idea.


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The origins of gated communities can be traced back to

around 300 B.C in England, with the earliest forms of

gated communities being reported to have been built by

the Romans (Blakely and Snyder, 1997).

Gated communities also appeared in the United States

when the upper-class started walling themselves off from

the negative consequences of the rapid industrialization in

the cities


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Later, more and more gated communities started coming

up built by the high-end income citizens for privacy,protection and prestige

The development of the master-planned retirement villages

in the U.S. in 1960 boosted the spread of gated

neighborhoods to the resorts, country clubs and middle-

class suburbs.

By 1980s, gated communities had become a common

feature especially around golf courses designed primarily

for leisure, prestige, and exclusivity.


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During the same period, gated communities started coming

up out of fear as communities became increasingly

preoccupied with violent crime.

Since 1980s, there has been a rapid development of gated

communities not only in the U.S. but in all parts of the

world including countries in Africa such as Nigeria, South

Africa, and Kenya among others.


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Factors Influencing Development of Gated

Communities

There are a number of factors contributing to the rapid

development of gated communities in Kenya and elsewhere in

the world.

Insecurity: Prevalence of crime and persistent state of

insecurity especially in the city, alters the behavior and

lifestyles of individuals and households residing in the city in

different ways.


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To cope with heightened state of insecurity, most residents in

the city especially the upper and middle-upper classes erect

high walls, electrical fences, and strong grilled gates with

multiple locks or fitted with automated security systems

including CCTV surveillance.


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Downtown Decay: Pollution, poor sanitation, congestion

and collapsed infrastructure in city centers has made places

that were initially attractive for residence less appealing for

habitation. As a result, the unpalatable conditions of

downtown are forcing the middle-upper and high-income

groups to move away from the noise and bustle of the city to a

more serene and cleaner environments.


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Income:The growing middle-class and upper-class income

groups is also increasingly influencing the development of

gated communities because of their ability to afford. Tijerino

(1998) points out that the unique aspect of the increasingly

gated environments is that such neighborhoods are also

within the economic reach of middle and upper-class citizens.

Infrastructure boom: Kenya is experiencing tremendousgrowth in infrastructure especially in the telecommunication

and transport sector.


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Road improvement projects such as the Thika

Superhighway has enhanced urban expansion

The inhabitants of overcrowded settlements within the

urban center can now reside in the suburbs of the city

without many problems because of the ease in traveling inand out of the city.

This has further heightened the demand for gated

communities that manifest country life in the city

hinterland especially among the upper and middle-upper

classes.


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Types of Gated Communities

There are three main types of gated communities

a) Security gated communities (Security zones)

b) Prestige gated communities

c) Lifestyle gated communities


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Impacts and Prospects of Gated Communities

Gated communities have helped to meet the housing

demands of the increasingly growing urban population

especially the middle-class and upper-class groups.

The rapid urbanization coupled with the growing middle

class and upper-class provides adequate market for gated

communities; thus making them viable economic

investments.

Thank you


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Gated Communities

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