ADA Compliant Bathroom

Thank you, @Maggie O – That’s a good idea. My mother will likely be staying with us and does have some mobility issues so we’ll be trying to make everything as user friendly as possible. I agree, grab bars are a relatively simple way to make things easier and safer for everyone!

If you’re going to be doing work in the bathroom put in the grab bars. if you’re not putting any ramps or whatnot to provide ADA access to the apartment itself at the very least the grab bars will help anyone with mobility limitations or needing a little extra support, and will be useful for a whole bunch of different people.

If you’re going to be doing work in the bathroom put in the grab bars. if you’re not putting any ramps or whatnot to provide ADA access to the apartment itself at the very least the grab bars will help anyone with mobility limitations or needing a little extra support, and will be useful for a whole bunch of different people.

Thank you, @MDR – This is extremely helpful, and what I was hoping to hear!

We aren’t doing any exterior work, so I’m hoping no ramp will be necessary. I believe the existing doors are already wide enough to be compliant (thanks late-1800s architects!), and in any event we aren’t doing significant work on the garden level other than the bathroom. If it’s just a matter of making the bathroom more or less consistent with that sketch, I think we’re in the clear.

I agree with @resident2 that a complete ADA overhaul (grab bars, etc.) isn’t feasible or likely even particularly helpful, but if there are ways to make the bathroom compliant — or sufficiently close to compliant for DOB purposes — and future-proof it for future ADA guests/tenants, we would really like to.

Do you have any feedback on my first question, namely whether all three units or just a single unit need to be ADA compliant? We are not materially changing the bathroom layout in the top two levels, so this is mostly hypothetical, but it would be really helpful to know. I appreciate it!

A 3-family home is a multifamily building so if there is a substantial renovation the garden level needs to be in compliance with local law 58/87 which requires adaptable kitchens and bathrooms. It does not require ADA facilities like you see in a public building, only that wider doorways and adequate spaces are provided and kitchens and bathrooms will accommodate changes to make them suitable if needed later. In my experience, the DOB has not required major exterior work like a lift or ramp if the project does not include work in that area and the cost would be excessive.

The bathroom layout you found is exactly the most common layout. You are not required to install grab bars, only to provide adequate dimensions and reinforcing in the walls so they can be added later if needed. This bathroom is what they are building in every new condo, it doesn’t look weird at all! Even if there is a step or two to get into the apartment, an otherwise adaptable apartment would be a benefit to to someone older or with mobility issues.

If you are renovating the bathroom only (not the whole apartment) and not moving fixtures or changing the footprint you an keep things as is. If you are changing the footprint and doing plumbing work then you have to upgrade to adaptable standards.

Thank you, @resident2 – Makes perfect sense, and I agree that doesn’t sound particularly feasible either for us or for a potential ADA tenant. I really appreciate the feedback!

Most people that are converting or renovating a typical late 1800’s early 1900’s Brownstone type property seek exceptions because to be completely ADA compliant is not just a Bathroom; it is access to the building & the apartment +.
How often have you walked down a block & seen a strange platform contraption in the front yard that takes up a lot of space but serves no purpose & is not being used except to collect garbage or hold the garbage cans? That is an elevator to get a wheel chair down the few steps to most garden floor levels. The entrance under the stoop needs to be dug out & widened so that a wheel chair can get in and out independently.
All door ways need to be widened etc. Kitchens need lower sinks, counters etc. Or at least adaptable.
The ADA bathroom needs grab bars/ handle bars, specific models of toilets, baths /wet-rooms etc and end up looking very institutional.
The bottom line is that you can build it, unless you have someone in particular in mind to occupy it, it does not mean that a handicapped person will come for it. And the open market will not be kind to this set up. Hence why so many after a few years have been re-adapted to regular fixtures, fittings, counters etc & the outside lifts get used as Garbage bin containers etc.
New development buildings are better options for ADA needs.