Housing
Why Gated Communities Are Still Booming in Buenos Aires
Pricey downtown real estate and safety concerns are among the factors.
Having to show an ID, name the passengers in your car, or reveal the contents of your trunk when you come home is not something that would appeal to everyone. But in and around Argentina’s capital city, Buenos Aires, gated communities with guards have become synonymous with safety and exclusivity.
Barrios cerrados, or “closed neighborhoods,” as they are known, now cover about 150 square miles of the region—twice the territory of downtown Buenos Aires. Their rapid, largely unregulated growth is putting a strain on environmental resources and public services, not to mention changing the social fabric of the city.