Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Required handicap access to 2nd floor/elevator

[melanie griffin (melgrif]

I don't know that you are legally required to do so (it depends on whether
the common house is ever open to the public or used for public events; see
http://www.adaproject.org/TitleIII.html#Anchor-I--20524) and whether you
have any federal funding. In general, buildings under 3 stories are not
required to have elevators. If the basement is not counted as a floor on
your particular plan, you probably don't have to do it.

However, it seems to me you would benefit from discussing what you would do
if and when a person who has paid for the construction and use of the
facility has a mobility issue that makes it unavailable. If you've got a
plan for installing a chair lift, or moving some meetings downstairs when
requested, for example, it will be more likely not to offend someone who is
applying to live there and either has a disability or knows that all of us
probably, if we live long enough, will break a leg or develop a condition
that makes stairs difficult.
Melanie

>
> Greetings
>
> We are working hard to control costs on our Common House for our new
> community so we can have what we want but be able to build it this spring.
> Our design has our bedrooms on the second floor along with a multipurpose
> room.  Basement has laundry and storage only.  First floor has a handicap
> bathroom.
>
> We'd like not to put in an elevator or even the shaft for future use.  Must
> we do this?  Are Common Houses typically treated like one's private home or
> a public building with required handicap features?  Thoughts and lessons
> learned?
>
> Your prompt reply is appreciated and thank you for your help.
>
> Mary Kaplan
> Nubanusit Farm and Neighborhood
> Peterborough NH
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