Frederiksted St. Croix

The gated communities in the VI might be segregated by the have and have not, but not by race. They are the most diverse part of the island. You have Black, White, Indian, Puerto Rican, all living together. There is a neighborhood feel where your kids can run the streets and play. Most CC R's are set up to make more of a community feel. Like no chain fence or chain dog in the front yard. As far as not getting any culture if you live in one. Many locals chose to live in them as well,and just because they can afford it that dose not mean they lost there culture. If you live on STX year round there is no hiding from the culture. Most of it is traffic, they just gate the road and they own it, but you can walk right in. If you are up to no good you might get noticed because it is a community and friends look out for each other.

I have no personal opinion on gated comunities, where you live is a very private choice. But the previous poster inferred (or is it implied, I can never remember) that everyone who can afford to, lives in a gated community. That is not correct. Many of us who could afford to live anyplace - within reason - have not chosen gated communities.

Ric and I live in a rental unit at the back of private property. We are totally isolated and totally open.

We are careful about two things, who comes into our home and any show of wealth. Tradesmen or service people who are here are, for the most part, are people we or our landlord know and trust. Heck, by now we even know our WAPA and Innovative repair men! We don't advertize our address and you would be hard pressed to find us without specific directions. Our neighbors are a mix of continental and crucian and the neighborhood has very much a middle class, not wealthy feel. I think our age also protects us somewhat. We don't stay out late, don't bring strange people home - except maybe a couple of fellow posters, you know who you are - don't get drunk. We aren't liable to interact with anyone in such a way to draw attention to ourselves. In many ways we fly under the radar, are unnoticed.

Secondly, we don't have a lot of "things". We are not showy, the cars are old, the furniture is comfortable, but miss-matched. We are rich in books, diving gear, and pictures on the wall -- not much of anything people will take the effort to steal. And if we did have anything worth taking, I certainly wouldn't be discussing it here or anywhere else.

neil, im with you on this one gated = more secure

Betty - nutty to who? You? Maybe you are the nutty one, huh?

Linda I did not mean to imply if you could you would, sorry if it sounded so. Can I ask if you did not like something about the gated communities on STX or just not worth the price.

My folks lived in Arizona for a time and my experience with gated communities largely comes from them.

My impression was that many people tended to turn inward, toward that community, and very much turn away from everything outside. There was very much a feeling of separateness. Also, people seemed to be very interested in their neighbors lives and in the rules of the community. Even here, I here people complain about their HOA - either not providing necessary services, or not enforcing the rules, or not enforcing them fairly, or even unfair elections of board members. To me it just seems like another layer of bureaucracy.

I personally like living out and away from neighbors. We've always lived on the "near" west side of the island, in the hills above Mon Bijou and I really like the vibe out here. Maybe I've been ruined for typical neighborhood living. lol. I have no idea how I'll adjust to city-living when I finally move back to Louisville!!

Haha, Juanita... there's actually some very desirable real estate west of F'sted... if you're a parrotfish!

I love Off the Wall and was there Friday Night with my wife and two kids the night before the robbery.
So now when I go out to eat I have to be worried about my stuff in my pockets and stuff back home ???
fyi...There was a driveby shooting Sat am in Mount Bjiou. Two guys were shot.
Living here is not for the faint hearted.

Fight Crime...shoot back.

Fight Crime...shoot back.

Two guys having a shootout with grandma and the kids in the line of fire.
Dead robbers and wounded bar patrons.
These thing would be good for business. Worked for Tombstone.

That would be my fear about "shooting back". At Off the Wall last week there were lots of patrons and many children. The shots that were fired by the robbers were bad enough. I would hate to see some well meaning citizen with a gun shoot a child by accident.

I don't know what the answer is, but something has to be done. DeJong is doiing a great job in many areas, tourism is an example. I would hate to see all his good work shot to hell - so to speak.

I would like to point out that the gated communities on St. Croix are in reality not necessarily "safer" than other areas, altought we tend to mistakenly belive that. I lived in Judiths Fancy (probably the "poshest" community on the island) for 8 years. During that time we had at least two very nasty incidents within the gates of the community. Now I live in a regular neighborhood, on a hillside, not all that far from a major road, and I feel just as safe, if not safer. Before moving to JF I lived in a similar "regular" area, pretty close to a public housing complex, and I had absolutely no trouble. Like Linda said, don't show of your wealth, don't bring home stranges that you don't know and trust and don't go wandering dark streets drunk and alone. Do get to know your neighbors and make friends. People in general are nice and look out for eachother here.

Im moving in april there. Retired Chicago area cop. Retired,divorced no children. Looking for a studio. If it would make you feel better living next door to a policeman e mail me. Alot of cops do get bad raps because they forget treat people like you would want your own family treated and the public would think alot more of the police. Tony at tonykcsorugby08@q.com

You might do better posting this on the classified board

This thread is TWO YEARS OLD ...January 2009

Tonyk's post is not

Fsted is very nice the sunsets are absolutely stunning, however when it comes to where you live no matter if its st. C or Beverly Hills, safety has to be one of the major factors in determining ones residence. I think renting a condo in a gated community is your best bet.

Many, many of us live out in the hills and neighborhoods. We've been here 7 years without a gate or a problem,

Same with us, live in the "country" with no gate or barrier to gain entrance to property. We never have had a problem in the 7+ yrs the house has been occupied.

Jumbie -STX

I am curious, the people who live out in the country way up in the hills, doesn't it get a little scary at night. Everything is pitch black with no lights except for the moon. I would feel a little uncomfortable thinking that there was some sort of criminal hiding amongst all the trees and overgrowth.

I've noticed that the bad guys tend to avoid the places that are far from the main road. They like a quick getaway.

I am curious, the people who live out in the country way up in the hills, doesn't it get a little scary at night. Everything is pitch black with no lights except for the moon. I would feel a little uncomfortable thinking that there was some sort of criminal hiding amongst all the trees and overgrowth.

I grew up in a place like what you describe, only on the mainland, not in the VI. People from cities occasionally used to say things like that when they visited. But really, who's going to bother going all the way up a hill and through the jungle when there are easy pickin's all over the island in much less remote places? And how will they know that you even have anything worth stealing way out there in the middle of nowhere? I feel like living in a remote place is one layer of a barrier against criminals... especially if you need 4WD to get there. 😎

What kind of criminal takes that kind of time and trouble to steal my kindle and Ipod? Or risk their car's suspension on my long, rough driveway? And it's not pitch black, we have streetlight-type security lights at the front and back of the property. We have always felt safer out here by ourselves than we would rounded up in a gated community.

What kind of criminal ... [risks] their car's suspension on my long, rough driveway?

The kind who wants to get caught easily. Teefs prefer to commute in a stolen car. Otherwise, they're sort of wearing a name tag on their back.

Having grown up in NYC and have always lived in a multi family housing type unit I guess I've always felt a little more comfortable with people around me. I've had friends throughout the years from urban environments who have expressed the same feelings.