1653 7th Street

I realize you may not have anything to do with the new houses built at the very end of 7th Street, particularly the house at 1653 7th Street with a Disabled Parking Space in front of it (LOL).

Why am I laughing? Remembering I am in a wheelchair and when I went past the newly finished homes noticed the disabled Parking Space in front of a two story family unit.

I understand that the inside design of these newly finished units are very nice. They have three bedrooms, a master bathroom and a smaller bathroom upstairs, while downstairs there is a small water closet with a toilet, a kitchen, dining and living rooms. Of course, a staircase to get to the second floor. (This description comes from a neighbor of the new units.)

Still laughing, I was wondering how an individual confined to a wheelchair would get upstairs? Did they build a ramp, provide a heavy duty lift, or an elevator?

And again, I could be very wrong about the design and layout of the unit built. I also ask, is the Disabled Parking Space for guests? Or it could be this unit is designed for only ambulatory individuals with disabilities? Of course, this could not be true, because it would be definitely discrimination, yes?

I hope you are smiling and take this with the humor I found in the concern I have for the newly finished units. I know that this could bite the City if you had an individual with a disability wish to live there because they saw that parking space and discovered it was not designed for a wheelchair.

I also noticed that there is a gate and path from the upper units that provides pedestrian access to 6th Street. The gate and path are not accessible to wheelchairs or many seniors. The gate's handle is too high and the path is made of large cement pads with big gaps in between them sunk in redwood compost, I believe.

Remember when you and I first met? I shared with you how folks built things that supposedly are usable by individuals with disabilities, but in truth were not functional for every day living. This housing project is an example of this. If it is public funded, they should look for advice from individuals like myself or other groups representing people with disabilities. This, I believe could be included in the housing element of the City's General Plan, "get advice from the user or their representative.".

I hope you keep a smile on your face and share this with those that are responsible.

I admit, I could be wrong in my assumption of the design of the unit I mentioned, but I am very sure of the access provided at the gate.