Page 26 - CooperatorNews New Jersey Spring 2022

26 COOPERATORNEWS NEW JERSEY —SPRING 2022 NJ.COOPERATORNEWS.COM THE BEST TIME TO FIND AN EXPERT IS BEFORE YOU NEED ONE. MEADOWLANDS EXPOSITION CENTER WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 10:00AM-4:00PM FREE REGISTRATION: NJ-EXPO.COM look for another ingress/egress option, or perhaps recommend a collapsible ramp. My advice is to be ‘conservative’ in re- modeling your space in ways that might trigger ADA requirements.” By contrast, Baron continues, build- ings with more services may be able to make meaningful updates without nec- essarily incurring exorbitant expenses. “For example, if you have services like a concierge desk, when you’re building a new desk or replacing an existing one, it might be designed as a dual-level surface with a 42-inch-high surface for standing individuals and a 30-inch-high surface for individuals using wheelchairs. This is where ADA compliance and Universal Design meet.” Cohen reiterates that “the ADA was initiated as a civil rights act, not as a pre- scription of dimensional code require- ments” and stresses that understanding the users of a space and what they want and need is what is most important. He points to New York City’s Inclusive De- sign Guidelines, which the city’s Depart- ment of Design and Construction pub- lishes in collaboration with the Center for Inclusive Design & Environmental Access at the State University of New York (SUNY) Buffalo, as “an outstanding UNIVERSAL... continued from page 25 building to divert the water. Typically, it’s simple to check. Use a level to see the grade. In garden apartment basement structures, water often comes in through a window or window well. Check the window wells, too. We have to make sure window wells are FLOOD RISK continued from page 17 of the 2022 Hall of Fame Award from the New Jersey chapter of the Commu- nity Associations Institute (CAI-NJ). The award, presented at the chapter’s annual awards celebration on February 24, rec- ognizes Magid’s industry excellence and outstanding dedication to the chapter. “We are thrilled that Jim’s tremendous efforts in support of New Jersey’s CAI chapter are being recognized and cel- ebrated,” says Michael Mendillo, presi- dent, FirstService Residential. “Jim is an incredible representation of FirstService Residential as he embraces our culture, core values, and commitment to excel- lence for the communities we serve.” Magid has been with FirstService Res- idential for more than 25 years and has more than 35 years of property manage- ment experience. He is responsible for the executive-level oversight of the team that serves condo/homeowner associa- tions throughout New Jersey, says the outlet. Magid has served on several CAI-NJ committees over the past 35 years and was its 2005 president. For the last 10 years he has also sat on the NJ Chapter of the CAI National Legislative Action Committee (LAC)—a volunteer com- mittee of community association home- PULSE continued from page 6 example of a document that meshes an understanding of accessibility codes with the nuances of how differently-abled us- ers make use of spaces and facilities,” from those with mobility challenges to those of varied heights, including children. “Each section describes recommended charac- teristics but also includes advisory notes that allow for nuances in consideration.” A full PDF of the guidelines can be found here: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/ddc/ downloads/publications/guides-manu- als/universal-design-ny.pdf In the final analysis, Universal De- sign—design for everyone—is a concept whose time is definitely here, but also one that has evolved organically over decades. It has also meshed and grown with the practical implications of the Americans with Disabilities Act to make real and lasting changes in how we build, what we build, and who we build it for. n A.J. Sidransky is a staff writer/reporter for CooperatorNews, and a published novelist. drained from the bottom and that water is diverted away from the window well and doesn’t fill it.” Mahan advises that there are also censor systems that can detect water buildup and flooding. They are used in sump pump sys- tems and set off an alarm to warn of water in the area. “The reality of torrential storm events in Chicago has been most prominent in garden level units, where streets flooded and water rose up and overflowed entire foundations. If the water table is above the floor line,” he says, “just get out.” Another issue, explains Mahan, is that we don’t have absorptive materials around most build- ings. Instead, “We have concrete. Water will rise until it finds relief.” The pros agree that the clock has run out; we need to pivot from the notion of stopping climate change to mitigating— and possibly slowing—the effects already being felt by so many. “Now it’s urgent,” says Beauchamp. “What we should have learned is that the effects of climate change are coming sooner rather than later.” Refer- ring to the damaging back-to-back storms that the tri-state area experienced in the summer of 2021, she adds, “This previously unknown flooding \[in New York\] occurred twice in just two weeks. People lost every- thing. We need to address the problem.” n A J Sidransky is a staff writer/reporter for CooperatorNews, and a published novelist.