WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Simple tools to better serve the growing market for Aging in Place and People with Disabilities:

Keep an open mind that accessibility is an asset, not something the constrains a home to only being attractive to a buyer with a disability.

A zero step entrance into a home makes it easier to bring home groceries and carry in all those Amazon deliveries.

A larger bathroom with a walk in/roll in shower can be made beautiful with a teak flip-down seat, elegant decorative grab bars, sleek channel drains and a combination of rain head shower plus a handheld shower wand that bathes the hard to reach places.

 

 

MIAMI’S PEDESTRIAN MOBILITY IS SUB THIRD WORLD

A VISITING PLANNER IS SHOCKED BY LACK OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

I met a well-known urban planner at downtown Miami’s Brightline Station.

She was beyond shocked that we ran across more than a dozen sidewalks completely shut down for developers: She noted how this destroys the pedestrian and transit link.

My planner friend is from a relatively poor city — but it requires 100% of its sidewalks to remain open during construction.

This is achieved through simple scaffolding – it’s been around 100 years.

She said Miami only pretends as being a world class city.

My planning colleague has worked in cities after earthquakes and bombings.

She said the urban core of Miami is only slightly more navigable by wheelchair and on foot than those destroyed places.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Simple tools to better serve the growing market for Aging in Place and People with Disabilities:

Is the housing near local and regional parks?

Does public sidewalk/pathway network connect to recreation, or are their gaps.

Gaps = zero safe passage for not only older and disabled people, but their children and grandchildren.

Does the park have an indoor or outdoor pool with hydraulic lift that can accommodate a person with a physical disability safely?

Does a waterfront park offer accessible kayaks and canoes?

Does the gymnasium or recreation center offer wheelchair basketball leagues, wheelchair tennis/pickleball and other adaptive sports?

Is there an active city senior center near your client’s ideal housing?

Does it also serve meals (this is hugely popular and common in greater Miami.)

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Simple tools to better serve the growing market for Aging in Place and People with Disabilities:

There is nothing wrong with a suburban, exurban or rural home – but realize two things when thinking of an aging or disabled client.

1) The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not apply to single family housing, so a landlord is not obliged to pay for a roll-in shower or other modifications.

2) According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, less than one percent of all housing is move-in ready for wheelchair users, and virtually all of that tiny one percent is newly built multifamily housing.

So the hard fact is that newer multifamily housing may be the only option with move-in ready design to accommodate a buyer/renter who uses a wheelchair for mobility.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Simple tools to better serve the growing market for Aging in Place and People with Disabilities:

Is the housing near the center of the city or a town center?

This does not mean the only option is a skyscraper or gritty townhouse.

It simply means keeping an open mind for a condo as a sale option or an apartment as a leasing option – to serve a client who can benefit from having a full range of services within walking/rolling distance.

For half a century, most growth in America was based on separating uses far from each other.

For the past several decades, the trend has been toward mixed-use communities, where jobs, schools, parks, medical offices and shops are clustered in a vibrant community.

Many of Florida’s suburban, new growth cities are actively soliciting major redevelopment that creates a mini-downtown – with pedestrian activity, density and a mixed of uses – where there was none.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Simple tools to better serve the growing market for Aging in Place and People with Disabilities:

Is public transportation nearby and is it efficient.

This doesn’t mean the single or multifamily housing has to be next to a New York City-like subway system or Chicago elevated train network.

Only a few cities such as Miami and Tampa have fixed rail transit.

So in most Florida communities, the question is are there buses, shuttle buses or other public transportation that runs on a regular route and has stops frequent enough to serve a senior or person with a disability that uses it to get to work, healthcare, shopping, recreation and other daily needs.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Simple tools to better serve the growing market for Aging in Place and People with Disabilities:

Are there dedicated bike lanes?

Are delivery trucks and other vehicles ticketed and towed when they illegally block bike lanes?

Many senior citizens can bike to shops and services.

It provides healthy exercise and an alternate means of mobility if driving is no longer an option because of deteriorating physical, visual or cognitive ability.

There are three-wheeled and handcycle bikes that can accommodate people with many physical disabilities.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Simple tools to better serve the growing market for Aging in Place and People with Disabilities:

Does the community have wide sidewalks on both sides of the street?

Are they well-maintained (tree root buckling repaired, landscaping trimmed back) and unobstructed (no speed limit signs in the center of the sidewalk, no dockless scooters allowed to be discarded and blocking safe passage)?

Are crosswalks safe (center median safe harbor to pause halfway when there are four or more lanes)?

Are curbramps consistent or missing?

Without them, a wheelchair user is forced into dangerous traffic.

MIAMI BOOK FAIR

PLEASE HAVE INCLUSIVE SEATING THIS YEAR

Last year’s book fair had an outdoor food court produced by Smorgasboard Miami.

It had 24 picnic tables and another 12 metal tables.

Not one had a space for wheelchair users.

We reported this 10 minutes into the opening day of the street fair.

Nothing was done.

This kind of ableism and exclusion cannot be repeated.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Millions of Florida residential real estate clients are aging and are likely to experience some loss of mobility.

Many just plain enjoy a barrier-free home in a community that doesn’t demand that they drive a car – past the age they can do so safely – to meet their daily needs.

Others are downsizing and want to live close to arts, culture, urban vibrancy and healthcare options.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Relevant stats regarding the market for Universal Design in single family homes:

The CDC reports that one in four adults in the United States has a disability that impacts major life activities.

The World Economic Forum has calculated the spending power of the disability community, along with friends and family, is $13 trillion.

The U.S. census tracks that by 2034, for the first time ever, there will be more Americans age 65-plus than under 18. 

The U.S. Department of Labor has calculated the large and growing market of people with disabilities has $175 billion in spending power.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Ryan Gebauer, leader of the Ryan Realty Group Brokerage in Coral Springs, noted that most major medical facilities and hospitals are in more dense, central areas – not in rural or exurban settings – so if person is maintaining a health issue, they may want to secure housing closer to an urban core or town center.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

“If you have a wheelchair accessible van, you might want to live near a company that does repairs. You don’t have the option to just hop into an Uber sedan, so proximity to a competent repair place for your van and wheelchair can be a location factor,” said Ryan Gebauer, leader of the Ryan Realty Group Brokerage in Coral Springs.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

As a REALTOR with nearly two decades of experience, Ryan Gebauer, leader of the Ryan Realty Group Brokerage in Coral Springs, sees a growing trend of people who are aging who might not consider themselves disabled, but who benefit greatly from barrier-free living within the four walls of their dwelling and within their community.

“Many people have been relocating to Florida since COVID and for the warmth. Proximity can be key. 

If you are coming from far away, you want your REALTOR to consider price point and home accessibility for sure – but you also need to know if you are near a facility with wheelchair basketball, beach accessibility, accessible sailing, a meeting place of support groups,”

said Gabauer, who estimates upwards of one third of the clients he represents for purchasing or leasing have a physical disability.

WHAT HOMEBUYERS WITH DISABILITIES NEED BEYOND THE FRONT DOOR

AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE

Location has always been as important as price point and amenities within the four walls of a dwelling.

With America rapidly aging, figuring out if a neighborhood is suited for Aging in Place and functions well for people with a disability – could become one of the biggest value added assets in representing buyers and sellers.

Ryan Gebauer, leader of the Ryan Realty Group Brokerage in Coral Springs, understands accessibility from many perspectives.

As an individual, he has used a wheelchair for mobility and required accessible housing since he became a quadriplegic at 16.

MIAMI BOOK FAIR: PLEASE BE AS INCLUSIVE

AS THE ACCESSIBLE BOOKLEGGERS LIBRARY MOBILE TRAILER

The gold standard of wheelchair accessible mobile events was set by Bookleggers Library at the 2024 Miami Book Fair.

Ramping both sides of a moving trailer filled with used books = a huge commitment to accessibility and inclusion for all.

Kudos to this small nonprofit’s commitment to people with disabilities.

PIZZA & CAFÉ GATELIER -- LAURELES MEDELLIN COLOMBIA

HELPING HOMELESS CATS BY SELLING PIZZA ARTESANAL

Man cannot live by arepa, ajiaco & bandeja paisa alone. 

Pizza Gatelier serves some of the best gourmet pies plus Italian goodies — matched with well-priced beer and wine.

Proceeds help homeless cats. 

Visit them just south of Medellin’s Floresta Metro Station.

PIZZA & CAFÉ GATELIER -- LAURELES MEDELLIN COLOMBIA

HELPING HOMELESS CATS BY SELLING PIZZA ARTESANAL

I made Pizza & Cafe Gatelier my first and last stop during a week of work, play and exploration in Medellin Colombia.

The intimate space is in the Pinos part of leafy upper middle class Laureles.

The artisanal shop is open 2:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. 

A gourmet pie + 2 beers = 10 USD.

EL CLUB DEL JAZZ

LA CANDELARIA MEDELLIN COLOMBIA

Basking in the night air in Medellín, la Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera.

Club Colombia Cerveza in my hand for a set break on the open air balcony overlooking La Candelaria.

El Club del Jazz in the cultural hub. ⁦

The house of jazz is open Wednesday to Saturday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Music starts between 8 p.m.-8:30 p.m. and lasts 2+ hours.

https://elclubdeljazz.com

EL CLUB DEL JAZZ

LA CANDELARIA MEDELLIN COLOMBIA

I have had the privilege of seeing live jazz in 12 world cities on 4 continents — and the year is barely half over.

Fortunate to blend my globetrotting Universal Design work with America’s contribution to culture.

El Club del Jazz in the gritty but up and coming cultural core of Medellin's La Candelaria stacks up with the best jazz clubs from New York to Paris.

EL CLUB DEL JAZZ

LA CANDELARIA MEDELLIN COLOMBIA

Christian Salgado has worked for years to find a home for El Club del Jazz — the only jazz venue in Colombia. 

With world class musicians and decor creating a mini jazz hall of fame — his cozy spot is Village Vanguard caliber.

But the prices are decidedly less than in NYC.

Reserved seat admission is about $7 USD.

A beer with tip is $3 USD.

Gourmet bar snacks are around $6 USD.

EL CLUB DEL JAZZ

LA CANDELARIA MEDELLIN COLOMBIA

El Club del Jazz provides a New York-worthy, world class jazz experience in the cultural heart of Medellin Colombia. 

I was treated to Stereo Jazz Quartet, Tomate’s and a jam session over a trio of visits.

The hip Candelaria space has great drinks delivered by warm, cheerful staff.

REST IN POWER JASON JONES

COLLEAGUE AND GOOD GUY PASSED AWAY THIS WEEK

Husband, father, friend, disability advocate, project manager at the University of Kentucky – fellow traveler Jason Jones died at age 51 this week.

Jason was a wonderful host when my former partner and I spoke on Universal Design at the University of Kentucky 10 years ago.

My partner was polished, but I was more or less a rookie speaker -- full of passion but also nerves, butterflies, etc. Jason was warm.

He put me at ease. He was not the official organizer, but he did everything he could think of to make us welcome, rested, accommodated, ready to wow the crowd.

He was so down to earth.

One of those people who didn't have to tell you that he was brilliant -- he showed it by deed, gesture and accomplishment.

A decent man and resourceful professional.

One of those people that you should have stayed in closer contact with.

Rest in Power: Jason, you enhanced more lives in a half century than most would in a century on this earth.