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Jefferson Commons: Very Good ADA Access With One Big Exception

October 1, 2013 Accessibility, Featured, Planning & Design, South City, Walkability 3 Comments

Jefferson Commons has done an amazing job retrofitting new tenant spaces into the old Foodland building on Jefferson (see Reurbanizing Jefferson & Lafayette Pt 2: Foodland). As I had hoped

One of two newly created ADA access routes into Jefferson Commons, this is the south one.
One of two newly created ADA access routes into Jefferson Commons, this is the south one.
From this access route you can see the newly constructed outlot building with two tenant spaces.
From this access route you can see the front of the newly constructed outlot building with two tenant spaces.
Turning to the north at the bottom of the route you can see pedestrian access was given considerable thought.
Turning to the north at the bottom of the route you can see pedestrian access was given considerable thought.
View from the new outlot building toward the ADA access route
View from the new outlot building toward the ADA access route
But approaching the building it was clear to me in May one detail was overlooked. Last month the problem remained.
But approaching the building it was clear to me during construction in May one detail was overlooked, but I wanted to wait to see just in case something was planned. Last month the problem remained.

UIC/Greenstreet Properties did a great job and, as required by the ADA, provided a non-drivewalk access route from each public transit stop. Shopping centers must do so, whereas stand-alone properties can provide access through a driveway. Yet an important detail for compliance was overlooked. It may have been shown on the drawings but overlooked during construction, or left off the drawings by mistake.

I’ve not seen any crossing paint here, drawing that in on construction plans can greatly reduce a design or construction error. I’ll be sending this to my contacts at the companies responsible and to city officials.

— Steve Patterson

 

Currently there are "3 comments" on this Article:

  1. moe says:
    October 1, 2013 at 10:35 am

    I hate to be negative, but in your 3rd picture, at the bottom of the route, are those pedestrian access points for pedestrians or to get the carts out of the way and keep traffic moving? I wouldn’t bet on the pedestrians.

     
  2. Tom says:
    October 1, 2013 at 1:33 pm

    There’s a technical term associated with the absence of the curb cut. “Oh, shit!” Fairly easy fix.

     

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