Submitted by Anne Emerman, Jul 24, 2007 12:38

On July 3rd, Mayor Bloomberg signed the "Model" Building Code Act, LL33/2007, and reduced disability accessibility by 30%. The Mayor cut the number of accessible entrances, elevators, and bathrooms. While It took 4 years to develop the Code, but three weeks to ram it through the City Council. It appears the new Code was a predetermined deal between the Mayor and Speaker.

Additionally, the Council also missed an easy legislative initiative to extend minimal accessible standards in the new Code to 1 and 2 family townhouses. HPD has stepped up development of subsidized homes in the boroughs via public/private partnerships. Minimal accessibility includes at least one entrance at ground level, one wheelchair/walker accessible bathroom on the ground floor, an accessible route throughout the lower level, and floor space to allow a w/c user to enter the kitchen. Gray Panthers NYC Network have advocated minimal accesible standards in newly built homes as good public policy for future opportunities to age in place.

On May 3rd, when Mayor Bloomberg introduced the new Model Code and tauted its enhanced fire safety, environmental and conservation standards, and pointed out that the new Code would not substantially increase construction costs, "A lot of this stuff, you put up front and you get paypack later." That also applies to accessibility. Retrofitting is far more costly. The Mayor and the Council missed an opportunity for a better bill.

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