Our village in Crestwood is posted as "Private Property". We do not allow solicitors.
As for gated communities, I worked in one in PA. We would open up to the public
for certain recreational activities such as golf, softball, swim meets and tennis events.
In this community we had our own security (Act 232.) Maintaining secuity in any village is a priority. If you do not have security in place, you will come to regret your
decision.

Our Crestwood Villages are deeded as age restricted communities, most of our homes are not suited for families with children and they were built that way to preclude people under 55. The answe for families that don't meet our reqirements
is to build more low income housing instead of approving more and more senior
villages until demand meets supply.

No. Let them drive and play at senior speed in their villages they bought into for that purpose- have silence in thier golden years

I live in Whiting Station, an adult community in the Whiting section of Manchester. The questions asked and multiple choice answers are off the mark and show ignorance of the legal status of Adult Communities. Adult Communities are private HOA communities chartered by the state, our deeds are legally tied to a Declaration of Covenants, and Federal status is defined and must be adhered to to maintain that status for tax purposes. I'm not sure what the agenda of this poll is but I suspect it is to gather resentment toward the legal status senior communities have. As far as security goes, most of our local adult communities do not have any special security forces and rely on the Manchester Police for protection. Some communities do have citizen patrols who report any suspicious activity to the police but not all have this. I for one would welcome more frequent patrols by our police force. In my 2 years in Whiting Station I have not seen a police patrol car once in our community.

Not bothered at all...they buy private for a reason. They provide their own snow-removal and pay fees for other things. I can't imagine why anyone would have an issue with this. Now some have recently asked for local police to go in. if they start to avail themselves of all the public services; it may be cause for re-evaluation.

Manchester is big enough where there is no need to bother folks who are (hopefully) enjoying their retirement. Occasionally our political leaders put us in a position where we appear to be at odds with the seniors; but no one I know begrudges seniors anything. I actually plan on being a senior one day.

What a strange question.

This question, Should adult and senior communities be open to the public?, only asks another question in my mind, "open to the public for what?" and "being protected from what?" Iran? What is the end result this poll is looking for? Ok, that's three questions so the poll confuses me.

I think they should stay private and protected. The seniors live in these developments because they feel safe. Open them up to the public then your opening up a new can of worms..... If its not broke, don't fix it...

This seems to be a loaded question. As stated above in another reply, we follow our legal requirements that are lawfully filed and recorded from the day the villages are developed. We provede our own services and police come only when called, therefore you might say we have less protection than non-age restricted villages.

We are young seniors that bought into a senior community for the peace and quite. And for safety we get. If it was open to the public it would no longer be that special place to live my golden years. As onthecuff said, If its not broke, don't fix it...

I agree with Mr. Joey G. We purchased our home in Crestwood Village 5 years ago, we not quite "seniors" yet, but love it here. We don't have special security where I live, but feel safe here. I would like to see the police dept. canvass our neighborhood, but so far they can't, only if called. Not saying something could happen here, cause it can, but my neighbors always on the look out and report any strangers, cars in the area. love this place and enjoy the serenity of Whiting.

A senior/adult community is meant for senior/adults. All of the associations have rules and bylaws stating the age limitation. This is not considered "racist" by the
federal government. I moved here to live with like people, to have retailers used to dealing with same, people & responders used to dealing with same, living in a area where my needs could be met in close proximity (variety of drs., pharmacies. food stores, blood clinic, beauty shop, gas stations, etc, etc, etc). Lastly, I came here to not have the destraction of children. Why would anyone want an adult/ senior community want to change. If you have some good reasons, I would love to have you clue me in.

I don't think it should be a senior vs. non-senior argument. I have no problem with age restricted communities. If it gives someone a sense of security and common interests then absolutely they should be allowed. How many of us with kids would be lining up to get in (realistically) anyway?
Mrs. Parisi I totally understand and appreciate you acknowledging that children (although loved, appreciated, etc.) can be a destraction to the older population. It doesn't mean that you "don't like kids" it just means you don't want to have to deal with them on a daily basis. I get it...and applaud you for saying it, so many tip-toe around that true statement.
However, Pat Johnson, I do not think we need to build more "low income/affordable" housing. Too many homes are vacant in family communities that would love to have families in them. Building isn't the issue...

Whiting Girl
Unless you live in a Gated Senior Community,Adult and Senior Communities are open to the public, you can come play Bingo, shop at Flea Markets,you can even belong to a Women's Club regardless of whether you live in that Senior Community. why,You can even speed up and down the streets
regardless of whether you are a resident of that particular senior community with no worry of the Police issuing you a Citation. Even though we are entitled to Police Protection and we pay for this service in our taxes,(and yes we do pay taxes like every one else) because the Senior Communities are privately owned the Police do not patrol Senior Communities. Isn't that a darn shame? So the Poll states "Should Adult & Senior Communities Be Open To The Public? Why Not!

I specifically moved to a "gated, active-adult" community because it is gated and has age restrictions. I like and want the security and pleasant atmosphere. Why would the "public" want to have access to our community? When a resident requests that a visitor be allowed access, our security complies. This is a strange question.

Could someone please clarify the intent of these questions? Are we talking about temporary access or lifting the age and maximum occupancy requirement?

The township pays for their street lights and who knows what else, it's about time that that stops.
The seniors want their "private community", but wants the young folks to pay for it.

With all of the Manchester DPW equipment going in and out of them you would think they were public. If we can only get the streets sweeper to show in PLP or a dumpster. Keep them private, totally private.

I think the age restricted communities should stay age restricted as they are as many people moved into them for peace and quiet.

only manchester DPW i see coming into our village is to collect recyclables, our village picks up the trash. yes, we moved here for peace and quiet. nice to see neighbors and my own grandkids visit, love kids, but don't want them living in our community. don't mean to sound harsh, but love living here. and yes, our community pays for street lights, etc. we pay taxes and high maintenance fee.yea, they shovel a "walk way" for us, but we still have to do the rest........

Whiting Girl
CM ,Manchester township does not pay for our street lights,Snow Removal or Garbage Pick up, because we do not utilize the equipment or manpower from Manchester Twp. our Association receives a rebate which is then reflected in our Maintenance Fees.You"young folks" need not worry that we are taking something from you, in actuality we give to you. When paying our taxes and (we do pay taxes) the largest chunck (which everyone knows) is the School Taxes. We have been paying School Taxes since since we were "young folks' and were raising our children. now that we are retired we still are paying school taxes and our children are grown and have children of their own.Now it's the responsibility of you "young folks" it shouldn't be our responsibility. I'm sure you have parents, if they are seniors don't you feel they deserve a break. You will be a senior one day. I'll bet you will be b------- and moaning about what you have to pay. We have earned the choice to live in a Retirement Community. "We did our time and payed plenty". In case you don't know there are still seniors out there who are still working. Have some respect.

TWO ITEMS: The title regarding adult/senior communities being lived in by those not meeting the age requirement is what I got out of the olumn heading. However, the choices didn't match the question. I voted the first one stating "No, it's due to safety reasons." If you read my comment I did not mention any safety issue. I answered where I could vote "NO" the column's header. NOW FOR MY SECOND ISSUE: SEE REPLY TO WHITING GIRL>

i am also a "whiting girl" and have no problems paying school taxes for the children. My kids are grown and while they were in school, seniors had to pay this tax. I have 2 grandchildren in the school system and kids are the future. enough said....

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." Ben Franklin

Whiting Girl - check the lock on your gate, is it to keep us "young folk" out?...or you in? Thankfully not all seniors seem to share your opinion and are willing to express so openly. Should I too be exempt from paying school taxes since I send my children to paid/private school? Or am I still to pay because I am "young folk?"

Whiting girl
To Manchester Fan, No, to "should I too be exempt from paying school taxes since i send my children to paid/private school?" I too sent my children to private Elementary, High School, and College, we even had our own school bus for High School since we were in a small district and there was no busing for public or private students, but, we paid for each of our children to ride that bus for high school . I had no problem with paying school taxes while my children were school age. It was my choice to send them to private school. I too believe the children are our future. My comment still stands, Seniors need a break when it comes to school taxes.

Sandy, what are you referring to? To live in this community you have to be 55! We will be here 5 years this April. We were more than eligible and welcomed by our elderly, very elderly neighbors, who we help out alot. Why should I feel ashamed???? Don't get what you are grouching about. Oh, and I so love when my grandchildren and neighbors grandchildren come to visit, they not a distratction. You sound like an old grump! Glad you are not my neighbor! Seriously, we were very eligible to move here.

Sandy, our drivers licenses proved we were "55", which i think "55" is not quite seniors, i think you misunderstood. We are not in a gated community and police do not canvass our village unless called for suspicious reasons. What's your point?

This is why some villages are called "Active Adult Communities". This is a much better term than "senior" or "retirement"-----we don't all feel or act like "seniors" and we all are not "retired". Many, many of us are "active adults" who happen to be age 55 or more.

Yes, Sandy and I so agree with you. what age is actually senior? I always thought 62, but not there yet......lol yes, would be nice to meet, maybe see you around some time, I love the "Heritage". lol

Thank you on-th-cuff, your comments are so true. Our "children" came back home and we ran away from them. lol as far as the taxes and maintenance fees, yep, we pay them, not real cheap. Funny, when we first moved here my husband purchased a new lawn mower and i said, "why you buy that, the maintenance guys will cut the grass" he say, "they don't do it right". He does all the gardening, because that is not included in the maintenance fee. As far as shoveling, they only shovel a pathway to walk out, we have to do the driveway, etc. and my husband also has shoveled for the neighbors. I love when my grandchildren come to visit and we especially love Harry Wright lake. Don't get me wrong, not complaining at all, love this life! We both still work, can't wait to retire! Just cant wait for the warm weather to come back.

Sandy, they have a great selection. Just having my life torn apart since Sandy, we lost alot with our "secondary" home in toms river that my son rents,and i mean alot, surprised the house still standing. ugh.. i just needed some down time Tuesday cause i had to run all over the place with house and insurance issues, stopped there and for the first time in my life ate alone. I treated myself to the eggs benedict. lol

Barbara, oh I've done the eat alone. If you are interested, the Regional Manager at
tom.davis@patch.com has been given permission to give you my email if you would like it. We're probabably driving all the other readers crazy.

you funny sandy, ok, i will click on the link. not too computer savy except in microsoft word, excel and access at my job. oh, took my granddaughter to the Heritage on Sat and we had a great lunch! yea, the other readers gonna start yelling at us.

not working, sorry to say. i will email him directly and see if i can get your address.

ok, sent him a private email with my address, hope he answers.....

Hope so, too. In the past I asked him to contact you to see if you would release my email to you or allow him to give me yours. OK I'm going to follow your lead with a direct request.

tried to email him directly and says not valid
ugh