Housing co-ops in Southwest Michigan help to fill a crucial need. They provide community and affordable housing options for area residents in a densely-populated area. Some of the people moving into a housing co-op may have medical conditions that limit their functional capabilities. The services provided by the co-op to maintain the premises and grounds can be attractive to those with medical challenges.
Those residents may require first-story homes, accessible bathrooms and other basic accommodations. They may also require accessible parking spaces. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) outlines requirements for accessible properties to ensure that those who rely on wheelchairs, canes, walkers or crutches have the same access to housing and businesses as everyone else does.
Co-ops may need to evaluate their amenities carefully to ensure that they comply with ADA requirements, including parking rules.
How many accessible spaces are mandatory?
For co-ops with limited resources, adopting an assigned parking system can be the simplest way to ensure that there is accessible parking available to residents with disabling medical conditions. When parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis, the co-op likely needs to ensure that there are enough accessible spaces for all residents who may require specialized vehicles or more clearance to get in and out of vehicles.
The ADA imposes multiple obligations on housing providers and other businesses that offer parking. Generally speaking, the number of accessible parking spaces depends on the total number of parking spaces provided.
Typically, every parking lot should include at least one accessible parking space with an adjacent, wheelchair access space, known as an access aisle, which is at least 60 inches wide, that no vehicle should occupy. The accessible space should feature clear markings and be close to entrances or ramps. ADA rules even limit the slope of the parking space.
Larger communities that have multiple parking spaces may need to have several accessible parking spaces. A co-op with 76 to 100 parking spaces, for example, must have at least four accessible parking spaces. Overall, the general expectation is that roughly 2-4% of all spaces are accessible for those who need more space or who use a wheelchair-accessible van.
Adequate accessible parking is a critical component of regulatory compliance for housing co-ops. Reviewing current amenities and ADA requirements with a skilled legal team can help those running housing co-ops ensure their compliance.