The uberwealthy are known to splurge on yachts, luxury condominiums or private planes. However, the elites of New York are investing money in things entirely different — panic rooms, hidden doors and bulletproof doors.
Gripped by fears of rising crime and immigration anxieties, elite residents of New York are taking extraordinary measures to feel safe in their own homes. This trend is evident in a surge of homeowners investing in security upgrades like panic rooms and bulletproof doors.
Over three-quarters of Americans believe crime has increased nationwide, according to a Pew Research Center study.
These fears relate to a combination of factors, including violent clashes between protestors and police, and the constant stream of shocking incidents captured on video and shared on social media, reported the Daily Mail.
In response to these clashes, New York’s elite are shelling out thousands of dollars to fortify their homes. Security upgrades include hidden doors, bulletproof doors, electrified doorknobs, ballistic doors, advanced security systems with facial recognition locks, and more.
Wealth is being spent on boosting the sense of security.
PANIC ROOMS CAN COST OVER $1 MILLION
The New York Post reports that the price for a custom-built panic room starts at $50,000. These rooms are reinforced with bulletproof materials and have night-vision gear, medical kits, and even food supplies.
They can be cleverly disguised and seamlessly integrated into any building, whether it’s an old townhouse or a modern penthouse. For luxury apartments, the price tag for these panic rooms can skyrocket to $1 million or even higher.
Panic room builders attribute the recent surge in demand to the anti-police-violence protests that erupted across New York City for months following the death of George Floyd, a black American man who was murdered by a white police officer in 2020, according to the Daily Mail.
David Vranicar, owner of Fortified Ballistic Security – a Florida-based construction and design firm specialising in panic rooms – is one of many industry leaders who has witnessed a significant increase in business in New York City over the past year.
Steve Humble, from Creative Home Engineering in Arizona, is another builder of hidden rooms and secret passages who has seen a similar rise in business in the New York area. He also believes the 2020 anti-police-violence protests were a turning point.
Bill Rigdon, CEO of Building Consensus, a company specialising in high-end security solutions, has always catered to a clientele of wealthy individuals, celebrities, and people of significant influence, according to Fox Business.
However, business has boomed even further in recent months. Rigdon attributes this to a combination of growing national anxieties, civil unrest, and the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming presidential election.
“People are scared to death,” Rigdon told FOX Business. “They’re asking me, ‘How can I protect myself with the upcoming election and the civil unrest that I see on the news every day?’ In fact, many projects need to be completed before November 5th, when the presidential election takes place.”
The cost of a basic panic room can range from $100,000 to $200,000 depending on the desired level of protection. This price typically only covers materials applied to the walls of a small, unfinished room.
HIDDEN DOORS AND BULLETPROOF DOORS IN DEMAND
Additional features like access controls, advanced technology, food and water storage, communication systems, and other equipment will significantly increase the cost.
Bill Rigdon’s company offers security features beyond ballistic doors that can even stop AK-47 bullets.
These include electrified handles, smoke-screen launchers, hidden nozzles for spraying dyed pepper spray at intruders, and even remote-controlled robots or drones armed with shotgun shells.
Following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, the company said politicians from both sides reached out to create safe rooms in their homes.
After Hamas terrorists stormed Israel in early October, killing over 1,100 Israelis and kidnapping 200, some remaining hostages, the company had “a large number” of Jewish homeowners creating panic rooms, reported the Daily Mail.
Today’s trend leans away from dedicated panic rooms and instead focusses on converting existing spaces like master closets, bedrooms, and home offices into secure havens. This allows these rooms to function as normal living spaces while also providing a hidden layer of security.
Then there are the hidden doors. These secret doors are built into the walls of apartments, and hidden with a window sill or a bookcase. They are meant to provide a safe exit for occupants of the apartment in case of an emergency.
With videos of protests and violence flooding social media, the elites of New York are using their wealth to secure their apartments and buy some mental peace.
