Total access should be the norm downtown

As a followup to one of my recent columns, I’ve done a bit of digging and come up with an answer to one of the questions I had after the fact. And, you gave me some feedback on the performing arts centre.

First, let me make it clear that I think the development to the back of St. Paul Street is pretty miraculous. I’ve lived in St. Catharines for more than 70 years and I never thought I’d see anything like this in my lifetime. What a difference it has made and will continue to make to our downtown and our city.

When I wrote about the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts I loved that the building was so beautifully accessible. But my question was: where would the students with disabilities live? Downtown St. Catharines has plenty of over-store, secondand third- floor rental space that all require the ability to climb stairs. Turns out quite a few of the students are at Carlisle Suites, formerly known as The Leonard Hotel. There are 74 apartments in the building, all nicely designed, and it’s perfect for mature students: no smoking, no partying. The doorways are wide enough for a wheelchair and there’s an elevator. Every suite has a shower and kitchenette and there’s a coin laundry in the basement. With four restaurants in the building it sounds like a pretty neat place to live, and you couldn’t be much closer to school if you tried.

I also spoke with Jason Brouwer, the architect of the two new student buildings going up at James and Raymond streets and Lake and Wellington streets. Will they be accessible and accommodate students with mobility impairment? “They are compliant with the AODA amendments to the Ontario Building Code, which means they are barrier free as far as the path of travel is concerned,” he said. That means power- operated entrance doors, enough room in hallways for wheelchairs to pass, all doorways three feet wide within barrier- free units and room in the bathroom to turn a wheelchair around.

You might think that an architect could dictate the accessible features in his designs but he’s working for the developers and they call the shots. There are several levels of accessibility: the Ontario Building Code, the Facility Accessibility Design Standards for whatever city you’re building in and then there’s Universal Design that makes everything accessible. Most builders go by the building code. I venture to say any architect would love to go Universal Design.

However, we will have more student housing in downtown St. Catharines and those people with disabilities will be welcomed if not totally accommodated. We’re pretty good at transitioning spaces to our needs, so we’ll manage.

It seems almost heretical to say anything negative about our beautiful, new FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, but if patrons felt strongly enough to write to me then what they have to say can be constructive and help those in charge know what could need attention. Sharp angles on very short armrests were a concern as well as the lack of railings on both sides of the aisles in Partridge Hall. And parking close enough for a person using two canes was

However, we will have more student housing in downtown St. Catharines and those people with disabilities will be welcomed if not totally accommodated. We’re pretty good at transitioning spaces to our needs, so we’ll manage.”

another. I’m also concerned that the coat check is a stairway or elevator down from the lobby. I can see some chivalrous gentleman in his 80s offering to take the ladies’ coats downstairs only to trip because he can’t see over the coats well enough. Couldn’t something be worked out so coats are either checked near the lobby or staff offers to do it for you? Or maybe I‘ m just a worrywart.

We have an ageing population in Niagara and I’m sure these few concerns won’t be the last, but everything takes time and feedback like this is valuable to make everything work for as many people as possible. We have the beginnings of something quite wonderful. Let’s build on it and make it accessible to everyone. And please, private business people, that also means no more stores or restaurants with steps into them. That day has passed.

Let’s go into 2016 with total access on our minds. Happy holidays. Your comments make my day.