Accessible North Country

Plattsburgh City Gym

2010-04-14T11:42:00.001-07:00

I went back to the city Gym on the old base Oval. Steve Peters is doing a great job getting locals into the gym. Down stairs a new community room looks very good. The new golf driving range is another added addition to bring more people to the gym. To use the range you have to go down a short flight of stairs. But still we only have the one entrance that is accessible for people with mobility disabilities. The bathrooms are all inaccessible in the building. The two in the community room still need more work to come up to code. The side door located at ground level in the rear of the building is not accessible but could be made accessible. The men’s and ladies locker rooms are not because of stairs and steps required to get to them. I’ve added picture to show the barriers.
John

Walgreens accessibility

2010-03-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

Accessibility survey
I was at Walgreens Tuesday 3/30/10 the new pharmacy at the corner of Broad and RT 3. Access to the parking lot and parking for wheelchair vans was excellent. Two reserved parking spots at the front door one on each side. The front doors are all automatic that slide to the right with an opening of 4 ft.
The interior is well lit with overhead signage. The aisles are wide open and clear of obstructions. The check out counters at the front doors are wheelchair friendly and you can roll up along side of each. The restrooms are of ADA universal design and large entrance doors and automatic lighting. The sinks are accessible as is commode stall with a large turn around area with the correct NYS grab-bars code requirement. The restrooms also offer an infant changing table. There is an emergency exit at the end of the hallway to the restrooms with a push bar
The store is one of the best I’ve seen for accessibility in Plattsburgh. If you’re driving pay attention to the street signal lights entering and leaving the parking lot.
John

Ninety Nine "99" Restaurant

2010-01-27T06:30:00.000-08:00

"99" is located at 446 Route 3. Good parking easy access to the restaurant. Very friendly staff and lots of available seating for wheelchairs. The restaurant it self does not have wheelchair accessible restrooms. There is accessible restrooms in the hotel on the main floor of the attached hotel. The restaurant requires signage directing customers the location. I'll email the corp headquarters for "99" with my recommendation.99restaurants.com

Anthony's accessibility

2010-01-27T06:06:00.000-08:00

Anthony's is located at 538 Rt 3 on upper Cornelia Street. Very easy access into the restaurant by way of a brick ramp. Food is aways great and a very helpful staff. The problem that I found was the restrooms are not wheelchair accessible.

Accessibility NY Pizza Weed ST

2010-01-12T08:48:00.000-08:00

Good Pizza I am sure but not accessible because of the front entrance steps.

Accessibility Dominos State Rt 3

2010-01-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

It didn't take to long to do the survey at the shop. The entrance told the hole story for me. I'll just add one picture.

Accessibility Pizza Hut State Rt 3

2010-01-12T08:22:00.000-08:00

After what I found at the US Ave PH I headed for the one on RT 3. Signage and good location for parking. Again some difficulty with the double doors for someone using a wheelchair.The restrooms are not accessible. Yes they do have grab-bars but don't meet ADA requirements.

Accessibility Pizza Hut US Ave

2010-01-12T07:54:00.000-08:00

Last week I spent some time visiting local area restaurants. My first stop was the Pizza Hut at 5069 US Ave. The site does have signage and a parking space for a van located right at the ramp. To navigate the entrance doors is another issue. Its difficult to enter the outer door and and also turn in the vestibule to enter the inside door. The survey of the restrooms I found the both rest rooms had grab-bars but did not met ADA standard. Someone in a wheel chair could not enter either booth.

Jade Restaurant

2009-07-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

I received a call from a family in Keeseville concerned about the accessibility the restaurant. The family had stop at restaurant the week before and had a difficult time getting their 92 year old mother who in a wheelchair into the building.

I was joined by Bob Pouling my colleague and Christine our summer student intern. Both are visually impaired and use a white cane.
The parking lot has 13 parking spaces with two reserved for the disable and both are Van accessibly. The first space has no sign designating it for the disable. It does have the international symbol painted on the pavement. The paint has faded at both spaces and need repaint. There is a curb cut at the corner of the building in front directly behind the first parking space.

Christine was able to navigate her way from the parking lot to the front steps of the restaurant. The steps have a banister so it was easy for her to get to the front entrance door. The pressure required to pull the door open was measure at 12 lbs
There is no signage in the parking lot area indicating that a handicap ramp is located around the corner on the other side of the steps.

Note the curb cut. Also the trash container protruding out from the build and blocking access to the ramp and possibly forcing a wheelchair over the curb.

RAMP & DOOR

The ramp has a height of 14 inches from the cement sidewalk to the concrete pad at the door. The ADA requires for every 1 inch height the ramp must extend out 12 inches or 1 foot this ramp has to be at least 14 ft long. The ramp was measured at 19 ft 4 inches and 3.1 degrees slope. ADA degree of slope not to accede 5.1 degrees. The ramp meets ADA requirements.

Ramp Door

The ADA requires a clear space of 18 inches on the latch side of the door so a wheel chair can pull up to the door and open it with out having to back up on to the ramp again. The ramp door does not meet the ADA requirements. It was suggested to the owner that he install an automatic door opener for the ramp door.
The restaurant is not accessible for wheelchairs or walkers.

Additional Photos:

Parking sign missing

Wash-Land Laundry

2009-06-15T09:01:00.000-07:00

10 Weed Street

The front door is accessible at 34 inches wide. The double doors at the side of the building are not. There is a 5 inch step up. The bathroom is accessible but could use an additional grab bar. There are no parking spaces marked for reserved for the disabled. This Laundromat is one of two I would rate as “good”.

Miller St. Laundry

2009-06-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

86 Miller Street

The Laundromat has a ramp but the door is a little tricky to open and enter the building. There is potential to back up when opening the door. As you can see from the picture someone in a wheel chair can back off the ramp. The right side of the door open and the left side is locked. The opening is only 28 inches wide. A tight fit.
The bathroom is not accessible. The back door is not accessible. Leaving the building by the front door can be very challenging and maybe dangerous by trying to get out of the way of the closing door.

Montcalm Laundry

2009-06-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

37 Montcalm Ave

The front door to the Laundromat also has a 9 inch step up to enter. Once inside the machines are older and in some case a person in a wheel chair may not reach the coin operating levers. The building has a TV lounge for its customers but is not accessible because it is on the second floor access only by stairs. The bathroom measures 5 ½ feet by 7 feet. And would require some additional work but could be made accessible.

The building does have a rear door that is accessible. There is an attendant on duty daily to assist customs when required. The parking lot does not have any reserve parking spaces for the disabled. There is no signage on the outside of the building in front directing people to the accessible entrance.

Friends Internet & Laundromat

2009-06-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

5035 South Catherine Street

The facility is new this year. Large parking lot with two reserved for people with disabilities. The problem with parking is the closest door is not accessible. There is a side walk on the south side of the building to this access this door. The side walk is to narrow for a wheel chair to operate safely. On the north side of the building is side door that is accessible. Signage should be installed at the front entrance directing people to the accessible door. The aisles are wide and the machines are reachable as is the dollar change making machine. The bathroom needs addition grab bars. There is an attendant on duty during operating hours. Adding an additional disability parking space on the north side of the building near the accessible door I would rate this facility “good”.

Clinton & Oak Corner Laundromat

2009-06-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

Corner of Oak and Clinton Streets, Plattsburgh

The Laundromat has all new equipment, full time attendant and is well keep. Good size aisle and large bathroom. The bathroom would need to be upgrade with grab bars at minimal cost. The building has two doorways to enter. One at the corner of Oak and the second on the Clinton side. Both entrances have a 9 inch step up to get to the door.
The building is not wheelchair accessible and does not meet ADA requirements. A permanent ramp is not an option at this location.
John

Washing Well Laundry

2009-06-15T08:16:00.000-07:00

31 McKinley Ave

The building is located in the McKinley Ave. strip mall off NY Ave.

There a no designated parking for the disable. The parking lot needs restriping. Someone has asphalted the end of the side walk in an attempt to make it accessible for a wheel chair or just laundry carts. It is not accessible and some one could get hurt. The bathroom is accessible. I can not recommend this facility because of the danger I perceive accessing the side walk for someone in a wheelchair. The picture does not adequately show the continuing pitch of the sloping black top into the parking lot.

Olive Ridley's Pasta & Pizza restaurant City Plattsburgh

2009-05-05T12:59:00.000-07:00

I was asked to checkout Olive Ridley’s Restaurant & Pub at 37 Court Street in Plattsburgh for accessibility 4/24/09. The entrance door has a 7 inch concrete step up to enter. The front door is not accessible. The center of the door handle/pull is 48 inches off the pavement.

Once inside the vestibule the inside door has a knob not a lever or pull. There are two other doors in the Pub, one in the dining room which looks to be the original entrance and is being blocked off by dining room tables. And another in the gaming area marked emergency exit. The signage is not up to NYS code for exits. After exiting using the emergency door platform has a single 7 inch step down.

The ladies bathroom stall measures 4 feet 8 inches x 8 feet to the back wall on an angle with the door opening into the stall. The stall does not have the 60 inch clear space required by ADA. The stall has two grab bars but is missing the third on the side with in the vertical position.

The men’s room also has the stall door opening in. Again the grab-bars are not to ADA compliance.

The restaurant in its present configuration is not accessible.

Mangia Pizza & Pasta

2009-05-05T10:56:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a consumer about accessibility to Mangie restaurant in Plattsburgh. As it’s known for its great food I was looking forward to the visit. But always having bad timing the restaurant was not yet ready for the lunch crowd. But it did give me time to look around only out side.

Access to the building left a lot to be desired. There are no signs to indicate parking for people with disabilities. Yes, the posts for mounting signs are there but no signs. The front door ramp can be dangers’ for someone with a visibility or mobility disability. A potted plant holder, bench and a cigarette disposer are taking up a good portion of the raised sidewalk. Someone can be force to step off and take a fall. There is a sure law suit here.

The handle for the front door is too high for a wheelchair bound person. The side door also is not accessible. There is another bench to the left side of the door on the letch side. A wheelchair would be unable to roll up and get the door open.

I was back at the restaurant this morning and nothing has changed. Yes I did email the Management Company two weeks ago. I’ll try to add some pictures to this. Feel free to comment. If you have a place you think needs us to look at. Call or Email. If you have a mobility disability bring a friend to be safe.

Hollister Co.

2009-02-25T09:06:00.000-08:00

Hollister Co. Champlain Centre Mall, Exit 37 Adirondack Northway.

I was given information that the store was not accessible and had two steps up to enter the shop. I asked Chelsea Scheefer to join me in the survey. Chelsea has mobility disability and uses a wheelchair. On arrival it appeared that there was no way for Chelsea to navigate any way into the shop. The steps have been design as the center piece for the shop décor.

To the left and right of the steps there are two doors on each side. None being visibly accessible for Chelsea to pass through with her wheelchair. After contacting the shop manager she assured us that Chelsea could gain access. The far door on the left side had an automatic door opener. The standard button size but was painted the same color as the building. The isles met the 36 inch minimum width and the clothing was reachable. The signage could be improved using the international colors and symbols.

Cinema Cumberland 12

2009-02-25T09:04:00.000-08:00

Cinema Cumberland 12 located at 18 North Bowl Lane Plattsburgh near Northway 87 and exit 39 south.

We have been receiving mixed signals about the theater, so I and my colleague Robert Poulin took a ride to survey the new facility. Bob is visually impaired.

Good parking and signage for the disabled and plenty of it right up front. The sidewalks have no curbs to hinder walking or a wheelchair. The manager was pleased to show us around. All of the bathrooms are accessible as is the single unisex bathroom left side and to the rear of the main lobby. We surveyed the largest screening room with a capacity of over 225 seats with two separate locations for two wheelchairs each with additional space available. The access down to the area is by ramp. The staff has access to head phones for the hearing impaired. There are light tracts in the floor to assist you in finding your way. The location for accessible wheelchairs spaces as it relates distance from the screen varies by the capacity of the screening room. Do check this out before buying your ticket. I would suggest you go to the theater before the lights go down for the screening.

A New Source of Information

2009-01-29T08:35:00.000-08:00

This blog is a new addition to the North Country Center for Independence web site. With your help, it will be a place you can go to find out whether particular businesses in the North Country are accessible, and to what extent. But first, we need your input. If you have information on accessibility features of a local business, call or send us the information. The more places we can list here, the better this resource will be for people with disabilities.