Four months ago today I noticed work going on at 1424 Washington Ave., so I began documenting exterior changes, mistakes, fixes, etc. as I’d pass by. Check it out…
December 9th: I posted this to Twitter & Facebook with the caption: “Work going on inside 1424 Washington Ave this afternoon” An ADA-ramp with handrails is visible. Click image to view on FacebookJanuary 2nd: Again posted to Twitter & Facebook with the caption: “Curious how those renovating 1424 Washington will handle ADA access” Most handrails now gone, concrete busted, the door threshold is flush with the top of the ramp. Click image to view on FacebookJanuary 15th: Sidewalk being busted out in front of new doorwayJanuary 20th: Door on left now a few inches above the old ramp so they raised the interior floor levelJanuary 21st: sidewalk removed in front of new door is bigger than yesterday, old ramp being busted outJanuary 22nd; Old ramp and sidewalk between doors now removedJanuary 23rd: Posted to Twitter & Facebook with the caption: “Fresh concrete at 1424 Washington Ave doesn’t appear ADA-compliant, too steep.” I mentioned to the contractor it wasn’t ADA-compoliant, he said the owner knew that but didn’t care. I sent an email to a few city officials with this photo! Click image to view on Facebook.January 28th: Posted to Twitter & Facebook with the caption: “Another attempt at ADA compliance at 1424 Washington Ave, what’s left doesn’t look kosher” Click image to view on FacebookJanuary 30th: I suspected this end will get redoneMarch 16th: and it did but so did the rest as a step now appears as the sidewalk fallsMarch 16th: the view from the other end showing a step that wasn’t there on January 30th. Will this get an end railing to prevent someone from stepping off the high end?April 4th: still no railing on the end, the smaller step should’ve returned around the end.
A lot of concrete & money was wasted, if only they’d done it right the very first time! A quality development by the Three StoogesMcGowan Brothers.
It’s still not “right” – it currently presents a major trip hazard, with the tapered step parallel to the main path of travel on the public sidewalk! If anything, it needs a nosing with contrasing color before someone twists/breaks an ankle inadveterntly stepping on the edge of the lower step. The only “good” soultion would be to repour the entire public sidewalk, maintaining BOTH the travel slope (<1:20, 5%) AND the cross slope (<1:48, 2%), with a higher curb, if needed . . . .
I meant to stop by with my digital level to check out the slope on the ramp part.
The building to the West has the same tapered steps — they come out more into the sidewalk area. They at least have some railings which increases their visibility.
The bulk of the sidewalk isn’t poured concrete — it’s paver blocks. There’s a poured strip agains the buildings.
I have a couple of apps on my phone, Bubble and Clinometer, that can do quick checks.
I see the tapered steps as a big problem, and not just here. The priority should be to provide a safe, level, walking surface for the greater public, not an obstacle course, in the public right-of-way. Large, “normal”, steps present one type of trip hazard, while uneven (< 1") surfaces create a completely different one. It really should be up to the building owner to figure out how to do transitions (like this one) inside the building, and not expect to take up part of the the public right-of-way. But since the precedence has already been set, elsewhere, I think that it would be far safer to avoid tapered steps, in general, and just provide ramps parallel to face of the structure that also include a continuous railing, to truly define two distinct, safe, paths of travel.
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It’s still not “right” – it currently presents a major trip hazard, with the tapered step parallel to the main path of travel on the public sidewalk! If anything, it needs a nosing with contrasing color before someone twists/breaks an ankle inadveterntly stepping on the edge of the lower step. The only “good” soultion would be to repour the entire public sidewalk, maintaining BOTH the travel slope (<1:20, 5%) AND the cross slope (<1:48, 2%), with a higher curb, if needed . . . .
I meant to stop by with my digital level to check out the slope on the ramp part.
The building to the West has the same tapered steps — they come out more into the sidewalk area. They at least have some railings which increases their visibility.
The bulk of the sidewalk isn’t poured concrete — it’s paver blocks. There’s a poured strip agains the buildings.
I have a couple of apps on my phone, Bubble and Clinometer, that can do quick checks.
I see the tapered steps as a big problem, and not just here. The priority should be to provide a safe, level, walking surface for the greater public, not an obstacle course, in the public right-of-way. Large, “normal”, steps present one type of trip hazard, while uneven (< 1") surfaces create a completely different one. It really should be up to the building owner to figure out how to do transitions (like this one) inside the building, and not expect to take up part of the the public right-of-way. But since the precedence has already been set, elsewhere, I think that it would be far safer to avoid tapered steps, in general, and just provide ramps parallel to face of the structure that also include a continuous railing, to truly define two distinct, safe, paths of travel.
What a mess, where’s a good architect when you need them?
Anyone know what’s coming here?