Architect Glen Cherveny is pictured with architectural renderings of universal design. Photo by Todd France

Summary:
• Suffolk County incorporates universal design.
• Erie County is first to embrace redesigned streets.
• One in five New Yorkers will be over 65 by 2030.

Architect Glen Cherveny was “dragged kicking and screaming”into a meeting of Accessible Long Island last year.

The coalition of builders, planners and community organizers promotes the use of universal design in new and renovated homes and buildings. Cherveny had never thought much about accessibility issues, but after a few meetings he became a convert.

“Now I put myself in the place of people who have trouble getting around and who really benefit from those things,” he said. Building codes don’t require accessibility features for aging or disabled people, but the Commack architect urges builders to add them anyway. “I’ll be pushing for 100 percent.”

The aging population requires new thinking by builders and planners. By 2030, the Administration on Aging projects 20 percent of New Yorkers will be over age 65. In fact, studies suggest that one in four houses will, at some point, have a resident with a long-term mobility impairment.

Suffolk County is the first county in New York and the third in the nation to pass a law requiring housing built with tax dollars to incorporate universal design. Four Long Island towns—Islip, Southampton, Riverhead and Huntington—have adopted incentives, such as lower permit fees, to encourage builders to make new homes accessible.

Simply put, universal design means:

• an entrance that is free of steps or has a ramp;

• wider doorways for easy maneuvering;

• a bedroom and full bathroom with reinforced walls on the first floor.

Universal design is part of a two-pronged AARP initiative to encourage livable communities.

“Livable communities are places where people of all ages and abilities have housing options and travel choices that keep them safe and comfortable in their homes and communities for as long as possible,” said Will Stoner, associate state director for community outreach for AARP New York.

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