Iowa City aims for more accessible homes

From the Press-Citizen Nov. 13:

City and county building officials in Johnson County are hoping builders will aim for making their new homes more easily accessible for those who are disabled.

Officials with county home builders groups, advocates for the elderly and city building officials unveiled the Homes for Life incentive program Nov. 13 at a press conference at City Hall in Iowa City. The program is a voluntary certification that would recognize homebuilders and homeowners who make their homes more accessible for those with physical disabilities to visit and live, particularly the elderly, said Amy Correia, Johnson County social services coordinator and a board member with the Johnson County Livable Community for Successful Aging Initiative, a sponsor of the program.

“(This program) is a big step forward in allowing seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible,” said Correia, who also is an Iowa City councilor.

Under the program, which also is sponsored by the Greater Iowa City Area Home Builders Association and is backed by the building inspection departments in Iowa City, Coralville, North Liberty and Johnson County, homes that meet the minimum requirements will have at least one entrance that has no step. They also would have doorways that are at least three feet wide, and a bathroom with a clear space of at least two feet, six inches by four feet to accommodate a wheelchair or another mobility aid.

Homes that meet the Level II accessibility, or “Live-Ability,” also would include reinforced bathroom walls to allow for the installation of grab bars, extra clearance between counters and the walls in the kitchen, lever-style door handles, and electrical outlets at least 15 inches above the floor.

Doug Boothroy, the director of housing and inspection services for Iowa City, said the application for the extra design, called “universal design,” would not cost anything extra in terms of the building permit fee, which for an average new home is about $1,200. He also said that the builders of homes that are certified through the program will receive a certificate, an engraved plaque and recognition through the city’s or county’s building departments.

He also said he was confident the demand for the universal design homes would grow stronger as baby boomers continue to age.

“We hope that through this program we’ll provide some incentives for builders,” Boothroy said. “We can showcase we have these houses in our community. We hope the Realtors will put this on their multiple listings.”

Correia said she was hopeful the county aging initiative will launch a Web site touting the universal design homes by Jan. 1.