PEOPLE DESERVE ACCESS TO PUBLIC PLACES AND SPACES

IF A GIANT FACILITY CAN RETROFIT FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESS, SURELY A POSTAGE STAMP SIZED PARK COULD MAKE THIS A FUNDING PRIORITY

Greenacre Park is a privately owned, publicly accessible "vest-pocket" park in Midtown Manhattan.

The urban oasis features a 25-foot waterfall that masks city noise.

It has a small cafe on East 51st St. between 2nd-3rd Aves.

Sadly, it does not have ramped access to the lower waterfall viewing area.

The elevated seating, under a canopy, that serves the café also is not accessible.

Though it was built before the ADA in 1971, surely this landmarked park could do some simple fundraising to become inclusive to all locals and visitors.

THE JEWEL HOTEL MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

QUIET, SUPER WELL DESIGNED ROOM IN THE HEART OF EVERYTHING

The obligatory nighttime neon walk along Times Square was a close by walk from The Jewel Hotel NYC.

Central Park, a cool oasis in a heat wave, is 8 short city blocks north.

I also walked to Grand Central Station and took photos of the nearby Chrysler Building.

The AC worked great in stifling hot weather.

And the shower water was plenty warm for washing off the sweat from a long day of urban exploring.

 

THE JEWEL HOTEL MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

QUIET, SUPER WELL DESIGNED ROOM IN THE HEART OF EVERYTHING

Each floor of The Jewel Hotel NYC has a dispenser for cold, filtered water plus clean bottles for you to fill. It was 100 out so I used dozens.

The lobby is tiny, but the staff was great about running up an extra bed sheet, some plastic cutlery for in room dining, etc.

The MET and other classic galleries on Museum Mile are walking distance or 20 minutes via train/bus.

Even in the heat, I was close enough to walk to a pair of dramas in the Theater District.

THE JEWEL HOTEL MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

QUIET, SUPER WELL DESIGNED ROOM IN THE HEART OF EVERYTHING

The Jewel Hotel had one of the quietest rooms I've ever enjoyed in more than two dozen trips to NYC.

The bed was super comfy.

The room has all kinds of surfaces by the desk and bed -- perfect for your laptop, in room eating, noise machine and bottle of water next to the bed.

The room has a microwave (perfect for warming that leftover bagel or NYC pizza slice) and a mini fridge upon request.

THE JEWEL HOTEL MIDTOWN MANHATTAN

QUIET, SUPER WELL DESIGNED ROOM IN THE HEART OF EVERYTHING 

The Jewel Hotel was the perfect base of operations for 5 days in New York City.

Next to Rockefeller Center, it is near every great subway and transit option in the city.

Under the Rock provides nearby breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

MOMA and 5th Avenue shopping are very close by.

SUPER DISABILITY FRIENDLY, UNIVERSAL DESIGN VANGAURD

CURB EXTENSIONS MAKE THIS CROSSWALK SAFER FOR ALL

 

Kudos to these pedestrian friendly, super wheelchair accessible curb extensions.

They calm traffic while providing an excellent route for people with disabilities across Meridian Ave. at Lincoln Lane and just north of Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach.

Every Miami Beach official embrace this and bring it to hundreds of other intersections.

People with disabilities depend on safe crosswalks.

DOUGLAS ROAD IS A MAJOR CORRIDOR

NARROW SIDEWALKS AND PINCH POINTS DESTROY WHEELCHAIR ACCESS FOR MANY SW 37 AVENUE SEGMENTS BETWEEN CORAL GABLES-MIAMI

After walking 7 blocks on Douglas Road today:

I can confidently say if I am given the choice between 2 days in jail or walking 12 blocks of Douglas & crossing its dangerous traffic 4 times—I’m picking time in the lock up.

Narrow sidewalks.

No shade.

Power polls and other barriers that destroy wheelchair access.

More than 1/3 of people in Miami-Dade County cannot or do not drive.

They deserve a multi mobile experience on this major artery also known as 37th Ave.

Let’s fix this.

The people of Miami and Coral Gables deserve better.

ABLEIST DESIGNERS’ BIG LIE IS ACCESSIBILITY IS EXPENSIVE

UNIVERSAL DESIGN PROVES OUT TO BE COST EFFECTIVE EVERY TIME

Universal Design and wheelchair access are NOT expensive.

An apartment entrance that used to have a couple small steps down.

Now it has a gently graded accessible concrete path.

With a tiny investment, everyone can visit the building.

MIAMI BEACH SHOULD BE SOUTH FLORIDA’S MOST DISABILITY-FRIENDLY CITY

BUT EVERY 10^TH STREET HAS A POORLY DESIGN, TERRIBLY BUILT        AND HORRIBLY MAINTAINED SIDEWALK

More than half of this sidewalk in a heavily pedestrian part of Miami Beach has a severe angle that makes it treacherous for people with disabilities.

It is on 16th St. at Lennox Ave. in Miami Beach.

Wheelchair mobility is virtually impossible.

Not only is the more level part closer to street (worse for pedestrian safety) but it also is an impossible route for wheelchair users -- because outside dining, valet stands and other obstructions block the pathway.

VIRTUALLY EVERY MAJOR CITY FACILITATES LARGE SCALE CONSTRUCTION WHILE MAINTAINING SIDEWALK SAFETY DURING DEVELOPMENT

MIAMI CLOSE SIDEWALKS FOR YEARS WHILE PEDESTRIANS, ESPECIALLY PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, RISK THEIR LIVES CROSSING THE STREET TO CONTINUE THERE JOURNEY

Is there something Miami’s water in that turns big developers & major construction firms into incompetent fools?

Because every city I have lived in + every city I have visited — does not close sidewalks for 3 years of work.

How is it that gigantic, 50-story buildings can be built everywhere else while maintaining sidewalks – but in Miami our development community is incapable of this simple task?

In Miami, we kill pedestrian safety for no reason.

There are 100s of American cities that require developers to maintain sidewalks during construction.

Simple scaffolding preserves safe mobility for pedestrians and independence for people with disabilities.

HOTEL MIAU MADRID = HIGH VALUE, PERFECT LOCATION

WITH 10 STAR STAFF AND LAVISH WARM BREAKFAST

There must be 1,000 historic buildings, boasting food, drink, dessert -- very nearby Hotel Miau Madrid.

I only used rideshare once -- on a rainy day when I was visiting an historic cemetery outside the old city.

The well-trained and warm staff gave suggestions for a pair of authentic tapas bars that were within 5 minutes walking distance.

Staff also respected my request for limited housekeeping. 

Many places ignore this, but Miau's team is on top of everything.

HOTEL MIAU MADRID = HIGH VALUE, PERFECT LOCATION

WITH 10 STAR STAFF AND LAVISH WARM BREAKFAST

The Hotel Miau Madrid's fridge is sleek looking and saves space with the wall mount. 

The only thing is it is cool, not really cold.

I could not find a knob to adjust it to a colder setting. 

While this was fine for sodas and bottled water, some milk I had for medication was not cold enough.

I worried a bit that it would spoil within a couple days, vs the 10 day expiry on the label.

 Once again, this is a very small deficiency at a very excellent boutique hotel.

HOTEL MIAU MADRID = HIGH VALUE, PERFECT LOCATION

WITH 10 STAR STAFF AND LAVISH WARM BREAKFAST

Hotel Miau Madrid reviews mention hallway noise and I must say they are correct.

It is odd that the double doors tamp down raucous sound from Plaza Santa Ana, but the interior modern renovation lets noise in.

Each night, I heard fellow guests talking in the hallway (the rooms are small, so groups in 2 or 3 rooms seemed to hover in the hallway at all hours. 

They were not drinking or making trouble -- just talking loud enough to disturb my sleep.

Breakfast starts at 8 a.m. It is lavish, so it is hard to complain. 

Plus I understand that Spaniards eat small breakfasts much later than Americans.

But maybe opening at 7 a.m. on weekdays and 7:30 a.m. on weekends would be a compromise. 

I'm an early riser. 

I had to kill time before the breakfast room (2 doors down from hotel) opened. 

Again, my words are more advice than complaint.

HOTEL MIAU MADRID = HIGH VALUE, PERFECT LOCATION

WITH 10 STAR STAFF AND LAVISH WARM BREAKFAST

The Hotel Miau Madrid's rooms are small but quite efficient -- with a wall mounted fridge capable of cooling a soda, beer and few bottles of water.

The price point for a perfect location in May was under 200 USD fully loaded -- delicious breakfast and taxes included.

Miau -- yes it has a cat theme in its logo, etc. -- is very close to Sol, the biggest transit station in Madrid. Anton Martin and others are close by too.

Puerta del Sol, Plaza Mayor, Opera, Prado, El Rastro, Gran Via and dozens of top areas are no more than 15 minutes walking distance.

HOTEL MIAU MADRID = HIGH VALUE, PERFECT LOCATION

WITH 10 STAR STAFF AND LAVISH WARM BREAKFAST

Hotel Miau Madrid's soundproofing for busy and boisterous adjacent Plaza Santa Ana is amazing. 

I could hear faint sounds, but the double doors provided quiet nights in a roof with a small balcony and historic views.

The breakfast is beyond lavish. 

Most free breakfasts are crappy little cold food huts. 

The buffet has variety, hot foods, gourmet coffee and a super hardworking staff person.

My bed was super firm and comfy.

The bathroom is large and the shower tube had lots of hot water.

HOTEL MIAU MADRID = HIGH VALUE, PERFECT LOCATION

WITH 10 STAR STAFF AND LAVISH WARM BREAKFAST

Hotel Miau Madrid's location is perfect. It is a 15 minute walk from virtually every museum, arts facility, jazz room, fine dining, mercado, tapas crawl, etc. that you would want to visit in heart of the city.

The staff is amazing.

This is a tiny, boutique hotel with barely a lobby.

I was not 100% sure it was staffed 24/7. 

Not only is it staffed, but its English speaking front desk crew is responsive in person and to emails.

Staff helped me plan for the trip and helped hugely during -- even got me a doctor in less than an hour when I couldn't shake a cold.

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

RESOURCES

8 80 Cities https://www.880cities.org

AARP Livability Index https://livabilityindex.aarp.org

AARP Future of Housing https://futureofhousing.aarp.org

American Planning Association https://www.planning.org/resources/equity

Wheel Pad https://www.wheelpad.com

Jeff Speck https://www.jeffspeck.com

New York Academy of Medicine/Age Friendly NYC http://imagenyc.nyam.org

Project for Public Spaces https://www.pps.org

LCM Architects https://www.lcmarchitects.com

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

Steven Montgomery is an Accessibility Specialist at Chicago-based LCM Architects, noted while longevity puts pressure on assisted living and skilled care (because people entering these care settings are doing so at a much later age) it seems to suggest that it may provide new opportunities for independent senior housing.”

“As for the built environment, universal design is the best option to facilitate aging in place,” Montgomery said.

“Because it is intentional by design to permit the widest range of users, including accommodation of future functional impairments, often associated with the aging process.”

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

Steven Montgomery is an Accessibility Specialist at Chicago-based LCM Architects, an ADA/accessibility and universal design consulting firm.

He said while there still is a market for active lifestyle retirement communities, the aging Baby Boomer population is “markedly more independent and increasingly more urban than the generation that preceded them.”

“The trend of delayed entry into senior settings is likely to continue as those in retirement hope to extend their independence even longer,” he said.

 

 

 

AS DEMAND TO AGE IN PLACE SOARS, SENIOR CITIZENS ARE SEEKING MORE WALKABILITY AND DIVERSE HOUSING TYPES

A TREND THAT ALSO SERVES PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES OF ALL AGES

“One of the key risk factors for health – both psychological and physical -- is social isolation,” said Meg Walker, a Placemaking Consultant and Community Strategist and Professor at Pratt Institute.

Getting out is so important for seniors.

They need to be near a park, a grocery, a library, a place to meet other people.

We need to make more areas walkable, parks more inviting, universal design applied to all civic space – we need to make places for people.”

Walker sees a trend across the nation of people selling big houses in the suburbs and into cities, downtowns and missed use developments alive with amenities and activity.