TAFT HOTEL

Issue: Vertical accessibility to two hotel rooms.

Analysis: The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility to two hotel rooms in a 30 room historic hotel which was constructed in 1936. The remaining units are all accessible by an elevator to a common hallway; the two in question have two steps leading from the hallway to the guest rooms. According to the applicant, it would be technically infeasible to renovate the building to eliminate the two steps. Two accessible rooms will be provided as a result of the alteration which complies with the ratio required by code.

Project Progress:

The project is in plan review.

Items to be Waived:

Vertical accessibility to two hotel rooms, as required by Section 553.509, Florida Statutes.

553.509 shall be construed to relieve the owner of any building, structure or facility governed by those sections from the duty to provide vertical accessibility to all levels above and below the occupiable grade level regardless of whether the guidelines require an elevator to be installed in such building, structure or facility, except for:

(1) Elevator pits, elevator penthouses, mechanical rooms, piping or equipment catwalks and automobile lubrication and maintenance pits and platforms;

(2) Unoccupiable spaces, such as rooms, enclosed spaces and storage spaces that are not designed for human occupancy, for public accommodations or for work areas; and

(3) Occupiable spaces and rooms that are not open to the public and that house no more than five persons, including, but not limited to equipment control rooms and projection booths.