Accessible Housing and the Hoodwinking of City Council and LRC by Builders

City Council will be introducing changing the building code requirements for the percentage of handicap accessible units from 5 units built per 100 apartments to just 2 on Sept 1st, next Tuesday.

What I'm afraid of is that City Council is scared to turn away any business right now. They will believe the trumped up figures and "logic" the builders will throw at them, saying they can't afford to build the extra 3 units per 100 and that if needed they would rather convert an apartment to specific accessibility needs of the tenant- but at who's cost? That has not been determined. So actually the pool of choices becomes smaller if more units are not built and the elderly and disabled are left to choose from pre-existing units, accessible and not- IF ground-floor apartments become available and IF they fit the size and needs of someone or some family that has accessibility needs then some builders are saying they would be willing to do the work. Then when that family moves on- bet your bottom dollar they will convert it back- another added cost not talked about.

I'm also hearing the argument that handicap-accessible units are not being rented- they are not making any money- they are sitting vacant. If that is the case- if you supposedly can't rent out a unit and times are tough- wouldn't it behoove you to look into lowering the rent on that unit and also look into possible subsidies? Isn't $400 a month in-pocket better than $0?

Are they not being rented because they are too expensive? And the disabled and elderly cannot afford them?

That may be the case in some instances, but I have seen figures that denounce that theory to a degree. There are plenty of disabled vets, retired people and disabled that DO have an adequate income to pay for more "luxury" apartments. And yes, there is a good percentage that cannot.

Are handicap-accessible apartment units being advertised? I don't believe they are to their full-potential. Actually I don't just believe that- I know that for a fact.

You see, 5 years ago when I moved down here to El Paso from "up North" I was used to paying a pretty penny for an apartment. My unit I left was a great find at $735 a month for a 1 bedroom at about 600 sf. So when I came down here I looked for apartments in that price range that could accomodate myself and my client that is disabled and uses a wheelchair. My client had a house and the mindset then was that it would be too much for me to take care of them and a house that was in disrepair. And inaccessible. So apartment hunting we went!

Just so happened to go and look at The Pointe apartments- Bohannon's apartments. I was told they had handicap- accessibile apartments over the phone, even though on the website I didn't see any mention of that. But I liked the floorplan and wanted to take a look. I wanted a 2-bedroom 2-bath. My client, myself, and another caretaker went to the apartments and talked with the girl that greeted us in the office. She asked for an ID before she could show us a unit and I gave her mine. She left it sitting on her desk and was ready to show us around when I asked her to please secure my ID properly before we left- I didn't want my ID just sitting on a desk for anyone to take!

We entered the model unit and realized it would be very UN-accomodating. The doorways were too narrow and my client couldn't even fit through to go into a bedroom. The kitchen was not wide enough for turnarounds in a manual or power wheelchair. Then there were steps down into the livingroom- hardly conducive to accomodating a person in a wheelchair.

While talking with the girl showing us the unit she said there were no handicap accessible units available. She never mentioned that if we DID choose to rent with them they could or would convert it to make it more accessible. That issue was never brought up or offered. Even though now I hear that Bohannon is supposedly willing to convert for tenants. Is he just saying that now because he wants to get by just building 2 units per 100 instead of the current 5 per 100? And would he really convert it at no cost to the tenant if asked?

Hmmmm.

I don't like the tactics these builders are using. They're basically strong-arming the city into giving them carte blanche. They'll build if they get some great tax breaks and don't have to build too many accessible units that they are unwilling to advertise. And the city, instead of standing up for it's disabled community, looks like they might offer anything to builders with the troop crunch coming and not enough affordable multi-family housing units. Isn't "smart growth" and planning supposed to include livability for the elderly and disabled?

I'm the last of the baby-boom generation. And I'm starting to feel the aches and pains that come with getting older. I'm seeing a greater need for accessible housing, not a lesser. And all those people that have single-family units with the island in the kitchens are probably going to kick themselves when they realize they need to pull out that island and re-tile when they find themselves or a family member in need of using a wheelchair and they need their place to be more accessible. But the builders built for a trend and no one looked at the future.

So when the public gets its chance to voice their opinion on this issue at the Sept 8th city council meeting I hope city council is ready to listen without prejudice.

What stake do the elderly and disabled have in gaining (actually keeping) the same amount of units built per 100? Is it choices and dignity and accessibility? True transition? Yes.

What stake do builders have in all this besides profit? Remember, true transition and accessibility is not supposed to be ruled by financial (supposed) inability.

Builders need to build according to the community's needs.

We have over 4,000 single-family units on the market right now and builders are complaining of what they are unwilling to rent out or advertise as far as accessible units? I find that ridiculous. If the builders are crying "tough times" foul and they say that it is cheaper to convert rather than build accessible units- why don't they start buying some of these houses and convert them to be accessible? I bet they'd advertise when they have $125,000 on the line compared to just $600 for an apartment a month. Someone needs to think ahead and not just in the moment, our community has needs and someone needs to be responsible enough and listen.

Builders unwilling to pay for accessible units and think only of their profits should not be making city code. Who else stands to profit in our city off of changing the city code? Let's take a good hard look at who are the players pushing this through. If it's not obvious- you will see on the 8th.

sidenote- one of my goals for the disabled/elderly community is to actually create a tax break to individuals that convert a home into an accessible home and deed it such that it cannot be converted back when sold. That would leave a bigger pool and choice in housing and reduce costs of conversion for future disabled/elderly persons.