Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Elevators and exclusions

[Dave and Diane (daveanddee]

Hi all,

It's not JUST a debate about money and values--it's also a legal issue. In 
Massachusetts it is illegal for most buildings with public access to be 
handicapped inaccessible. Pay close attention to the latter half of each of 
these sections from the general laws of Massachusetts.

I strongly advise any forming cohousing group to get good legal advice before 
embarking on a cohousing development project.

--Diane Simpson
  JP Cohousing
  Boston, MA


PART I. ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT 

TITLE II. EXECUTIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICERS OF THE
COMMONWEALTH 

CHAPTER 22. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY 

Chapter 22: Section 13A. Architectural access board; members; terms; rules and 
regulations; penalties; review; definitions 

“Public building”, buildings constructed by the commonwealth or any political 
subdivision thereof with public funds and open to public use, including, but 
not limited to, those constructed by public housing authorities, the 
Massachusetts Port Authority, the Massachusetts Parking Authority, the 
Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation 
Authority, or building authorities of any public educational institution, or 
their successors; and privately financed buildings that are open to and used by 
the public. 

Buildings that are open to and used by the public shall include, but not be 
limited to, the following buildings: transportation terminals, institutional 
buildings, commercial buildings, buildings having places of assembly with a 
capacity of more than one hundred and fifty persons, hotels, motels, 
dormitories, public parking garages or lots with a capacity of fifteen or more 
automobiles, public sidewalks and ways, public areas of apartment buildings and 
condominiums containing twelve or more units and of funeral homes, and rest 
rooms and public areas of shopping centers and restaurants. 

------------------------------


Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 09:55:21 -0400
From: "Ann Zabaldo" <ann.zabaldo [at] gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [C-L]_ Elevators and exclusions


Wow. (Scratching head ...)

Rob.  (More scratching head ...)

This debate is about money and values.
<snip>

-- 
Ann Zabaldo
Voice 202-291-7892
Fax 202-291-8594
Takoma Village Cohousing
Washington, DC
Principal, Cohousing Collaborative, LLC
McLean, VA