ALAMO HOTEL

Issue: Vertical accessibility between levels in the first floor lobby and interior dimensions of an existing elevator.

Analysis: The applicant is requesting a waiver from providing vertical accessibility between the levels of the first floor lobby and the required interior dimensions of an elevator. The project presently has 37 apartments and 3 hotel rooms and is being converted to hotel use only. All accessible guest rooms are located on the second and third floors which are accessed by an elevator that does not have the required minimum interior dimensions. The structure is located in an historic district and according to the applicant, it would not only be technically infeasible to modify the elevator shaft to comply with the code, but doing so would be disproportionate to the construction cost. The cost of the alteration is $425,000 and installation of two lifts would increase the project cost by $585,603.

Project Progress:

The project is in plan review.

Items to be Waived:

Vertical accessibility between the lobby levels, 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.

Section 407.1 General. Elevators shall comply with 407 and with ASME A17 (incorporated by reference, see “Referenced Standards” in Chapter 1. They shall be passenger elevators as classified by ASME A17.1. Elevator operation shall be automatic. (Standards require dimensions of 51” x 66”; the existing elevator is 42” x 51”.)