WHAT’S YOUR MODERN CITY’S EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO MOBILITY AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?
The Walls are ancient, but access for people with disabilities is a priority.
https://www.avilaturismo.com/en/organize-your-visit/avila-is-everyone
WHAT’S YOUR MODERN CITY’S EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO MOBILITY AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?
Because Ávila is built on a steep hill, the best way to reach the accessible portion of the Medieval walls is arriving by car or an adapted taxi. Exiting directly to the Puerta del Puente is recommended to avoid steep inclines from the upper city center.
https://www.avilaturismo.com/en/organize-your-visit/avila-is-everyone
WHAT’S YOUR MODERN CITY’S EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO MOBILITY AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?
On top of the ancient defensive walls,
the accessible pathway is mostly flat with some cobblestones.
https://www.avilaturismo.com/en/organize-your-visit/avila-is-everyone
WHAT’S YOUR MODERN CITY’S EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO MOBILITY AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?
The Avila walls visitor reception area is connected by an accessible route and has manual wheelchairs available to borrow.
https://www.avilaturismo.com/en/organize-your-visit/avila-is-everyone
WHAT’S YOUR MODERN CITY’S EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO MOBILITY AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?
Once at the top of some of the best preserved city walls in Europe, disabled visitors can enjoy a flat, 100-meter stretch of the battlement walk.
https://www.avilaturismo.com/en/organize-your-visit/avila-is-everyone
WHAT’S YOUR MODERN CITY’S EXCUSE FOR FAILING TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO MOBILITY AND ACCESS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES?
An accessible portion of its famous city walls can be reached by ramp and elevator.
https://www.avilaturismo.com/en/organize-your-visit/avila-is-everyone
AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE
·
The National Association of Home Builders has a
Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS) program that teaches contractors how
to modify homes for disability accessibility and aging-in-place.
· The National Council on Independent Living is a network of city and statewide nonprofits focused on people with disabilities living independently, not in institutions.
ItIt has a wide range of resources,
including the Visitability guidelines created by Eleanor Smith.
https://ncil.org/visitability/
AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE
The AARP is the largest nonprofit in the U.S., with 38 million members.
It developed the: Walk Audit Tool Kit “Learn how to assess and report on the safety and walkability of a street, intersection or neighborhood — and inspire needed change.”
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/getting-around/aarp-walk-audit-tool-kit-english/
Understanding Aging in Place and Accessibility is a must to capture a growing market
·
Selling a high quality of life to people with
disabilities includes the barrier-free accessibility of the community beyond
the four walls of their residence
·
Soon, there will be more Americans age
65-plus than under 18. Nearly 40 percent of those older than 65 have some
type of disability that impacts their daily lives.
AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE
The AARP is the largest nonprofit in the U.S., with 38 million members.
Not only has it partnered with the NAR on many livability issues, but it also is becoming the nation’s go-to resource for developing information that supports a high quality of life for people of all ages and abilities. Some of its resources include:
HomeFit Guide “Smart ways to make a home comfortable, safe and a great fit for older adults — and people of all ages”
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/housing/info-2020/homefit-guide-download.html
AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE
The bottom line is educating oneself DOES NOT require the
expertise of a physical or occupational therapist, nor does it require personal
or close family experience with a disability.
It simply requires being observant, asking a few
questions and noting the downside of potential barriers and the upside of
welcoming, accessible to all facilities.
REALTORS are already very good at this.
They are immersed in their communities.
They serve on municipal boards and committees with a
higher frequency than many professions.
They already know how to sell community assets such as
schools, parks, activities and transportation.
By simply raising awareness, digging deeper and taking a
few notes – they can assemble a toolbox to capture the growing market of a
graying America, many who benefit from barrier-free community design and
facilities.
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:
Considering that the ADA Network has documented that
virtually 40 percent of people 65 and older have a disability that impacts
their daily lives, basic/comfortable/welcoming access can be marketed as a
desirable amenity.
AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE
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.
AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE
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.)
AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE
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.
AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE
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.
AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE
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.
AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE
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.
AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE
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.
AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE
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.
AS THE POPULATION AGES, BARRIER-FREE LIVING AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES ARE BECOMING KEY DRIVERS OF VALUE IN REAL ESTATE
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.
