Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Everyone Has a Disability - "Universal" Design Addresses that

[Elizabeth Magill (liz]

We've tried at Mosaic Commons (Berlin MA) to do all Low VOC  
construction.
Does that address your disability and those with similar ones?
We get asked all the time what we have done for chemical  
sensitivities. Is yours an example of that or something additional I  
should understand?

It's been an interesting challenge, and we've adjusted which  
cabinets, have no carpets, selected particular paints, chosen  
insulation all with this in mind. I hope we've pulled it off!

Keeping all those construction issues fore front is hard when  
affordability is the goal. Our affordable units are mostly under  
$200K, and the market rate units are comparable to the Boston Area  
Market.

-Liz
Elizabeth M. Magill (Liz)
liz [at] mosaic-commons.org
Move in this fall in Berlin, MA
2, 3, and 4 BR units still available.
Feel free to call me at 508-450-0431




On Mar 26, 2008, at 9:54 PM, Cindy T wrote:

> I too am happy to see the issue of disabilities raised here.  My  
> disability has nothing to do with stairs, walkways, doors, etc.  As  
> a result I am almost never able to find adequate accommodation, and  
> basically have little hope of finding a suitable, affordable co- 
> housing community.  I was injured by formaldehyde exposure in my  
> former job and as a result have lost the ability to tolerate that  
> and various other chemicals.  In the U.S. formaldehyde is commonly  
> present in building materials at levels not allowed in other  
> countries, like the E.U.  For example, it's in manufactured wood  
> products, like cabinets, carpets and other flooring, paint, caulk,  
> adhesives, sealers, insulation, pesticides (which also have other  
> serious problems), etc.  It surprises me to find that even  
> communities advertised as green do not commit to using non-toxic  
> construction materials.  I was able to have built a 1400 sq.ft.  
> house free of formaldehyde and most other toxins for under $200,000  
> in Arizona, so it
>  doesn't seem cost prohibitive.
>
> Cindy T
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