[OMS_MANAGERS] ADA Accessibility For Second Story Historic Buildings

[Margo Rettig]

Hi Tyler,
You may wish to reach out for some initial guidance from the building department and/or an architect on your committee or in your community.
Please do not take this response as guidance for your particular situation, these are just friendly recommendations for what to look into or ask about.

Accessibility requirements for residential uses are quite different than for commercial uses.
There are different levels of accessibility requirements for public facilities, as compared with commercial facilities. There is nuance as to the type of commercial use (eg, health care provider, beauty shop, lawyer have a higher accessibility requirements in ADAAG Title III).   A change in occupancy is also a trigger for higher accessibility standards per the building code.

ORS does not require elevators in certain situations and for certain building sizes.  ORS requirements are different from ADA / building code requirements.
https://oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_447.247#:~:text=In%20all%20private%20membership%20clubs,overhead%20finish%20of%20the%20building.

The building code may allow for residential units that are not accessible up to a certain quantity:  it is worth having someone look at the accessibility chapters and the existing building code chapters in the building code.

For alterations to existing buildings, including work on second floors:-

  *   ADAAG defines priorities for improvement (eg, accessible entrances should be provided before accessible restroom facilities)
  *   ADAAG also offers some flexibility based on value of improvements and structural limitations in existing facilities.  There are exceptions for structural impracticability.  There are defined elevator exemptions (make sure this doesn’t conflict with ORS).
https://www.ada.gov/law-and-regs/design-standards/2010-stds/   Title III likely applies to your question.  Chapter 2 may be helpful to you.


Margo Rettig
Urban Patterns
971.242.9102
urbanpatterns.com<http://www.urbanpatterns.com/>

From: OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> on behalf of Tyler Ferrari <tyler.ferrari at dallasor.gov>
Reply-To: Oregon Main Street Network Members <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
Date: Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 10:00 AM
To: Oregon Main Street Network Members <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
Subject: Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] ADA Accessibility For Second Story Historic Buildings

Thank you, Tkeisha!!

Tyler Ferrari
Economic Development Specialist
503-831-3579
[Image removed by sender.]


On Thu, Apr 4, 2024 at 9:43 AM Sheridan Revitalization <revitalizesheridan at gmail.com<mailto:revitalizesheridan at gmail.com>> wrote:
In Sheridan we have a historical building where the upstairs is being renovated for apartments and downstairs for commercial units. The builder was able to use an addition on the downstairs area to create an ADA apartment unit.

Best,
Tkeisha

On Thu, Apr 4, 2024 at 9:34 AM Tyler Ferrari <tyler.ferrari at dallasor.gov<mailto:tyler.ferrari at dallasor.gov>> wrote:
Hi all,

The owner of a multistory historic building in our downtown area is looking to lease out the upper stories for commercial use. For those who have had similar situations in your communities, what ADA issues did you run into (for example, this building does not have an elevator), and how did those owners remedy those issues and/or find ways to effectively use these spaces without making large monetary investments.


Thank you!

Tyler Ferrari
Economic Development Specialist
503-831-3579
[Image removed by sender.]
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