Sorry Wizard and all, I meant ADA not ADU in the subject line. Spell check just isn't sufficient late at night.
Jim Graham, Ventura Village ----- Original Message ----- From: JIM GRAHAM <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Mpls - Issues <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, September 30, 2002 1:18 AM Subject: [Mpls] Wizard's suggestion about ADU accessability is right on the Mark > > Wizard's suggestion about wheelchair accessibility really hits the mark, (no > it's not a play on Wizard's name, just her accuracy; which I complement her > on). One of the true shortages in housing is the shortage of such wheelchair > accessible units. This is particularly true of smaller units located within > the community, rather than only in a multi-unit institutional type of > housing. Many of us in this huge baby-boom generation are going to very > quickly need such units. If we entertain any hope of independent living in > our preferred communities, we are going to need to start building them NOW. > > Our Minneapolis Planning Department does not seem to be very concerned with > this coming need and the shortage that they have "Planned". Of course > Minneapolis "Planning" reminds me of "Military Intelligence", both are used > as common jokes. You would think Mayor Rybak would look to hiring a few > people who can "Plan" for a future that has certainly been predicted since > this huge population bubble was in its twenties. > > An example of the "Planning" Departments close-mindedness about handicapped > accessible housing can be seen in their recent recommendation that the > Ventura Village Carriage Houses only be allowed if they were totally up a > set of stairs and located totally above a minimum two-car garage. Ventura > Village had designed a carriage house specifically to meet the needs of > wheelchair bound people living independently. This "Accessory Unit" would > have a garage tall enough for a handicapped Van and living quarters on the > same flat surface. Additionally it would be equipped with the bathroom, > kitchen, and cabinetry that a handicapped person would require, (and could > actually use). > > I think the "Planning" Department needs to do a little planning that > includes the future of their own mother or father, the possible future of a > child, and possibly their very own future. Anyone who may someday be > diabetic, or who may one day have a spinal injury, or some other > debilitating disease, (THIS INCLUDES EVERYONE I KNOW) needs to be concerned > with such "Planning". The City of Minneapolis needs to encourage and praise > anyone who will fill this need, not discourage and penalize such people. > Those who care about handicapped people should be calling their City > Council-member and the Mayor's office demanding that Ventura Village and > other neighborhoods be allowed to build Handicapped Accessible "Accessory > Units". Those of you who care might also consider building such a unit in > your back yard, (but first call, because they don't want anyone to build > one). > > The same problems can be said to exist with MCDA, MHFA, Hennepin County, and > the Met Council. One would think it would be a requirement for any units > funded by these agencies. Units that have been designed to be accessible > for the disabled are certainly usable for abled people without any > modification. The reverse is definitely not true. It is almost impossible > to economically retrofit a housing unit designed exclusively for abled > persons to one close to being adequate for the handicapped. So even these > governmental bodies need to do a little "Planning" for the future. It will > cost their developer buddies only a small amount more to build such units. > The public should demand at a minimum there is some benefit from the public' > s tax money going to subsidize such units. So List-Members call your > Hennepin County Commissioner, your State Legislators, and yes even your > MET-Council Representative and DEMAND that they only fund housing that is > designed for either elderly people or that is designed to be handicapped > accessible. If a housing unit is accessible for the handicapped or the > elderly, it is surly accessible for the young and the abled. > > It has been amazing to have engaged in this battle for the last couple of > years without the advocates who supposedly represent "Affordable Housing" > and "Handicapped" people even seeming to be aware of it. Do those > "Advocacy" groups actually advocate for people, or are they only advocating > for their multi-unit developer patrons. I hear them make statements at Mayor > Rybak's housing conferences, at the Met Council, and at the Legislature, but > I never see them when we are at the City Council fighting for the zoning > changes that would allow such housing to be provided by and for individual > people. If they are truly interested they should also be visiting some City > Council people. > > I wonder if it is because the advocates are just unaware that individual > people who own a duplex or triplex in aggregate are the providers of most of > the Cities' truly affordable housing. Affordable has also become a joke. > Affordable to whom? Starting police officers, firemen, and yes even > "Planners" qualify for such "Affordable Housing". No wonder the working > poor have a problem competing for it. > > It is an election year folks. START CALLING. Next year they will not have as > much need, (or reason), to listen. > > Jim Graham, > Ventura Village > > _______________________________________ > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: > http://e-democracy.org/mpls > _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
