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Urban active fitness/Gold's Gym and Handicap accessibility

Calling all cars, calling all cars...can anyone answer this?

I went into the "Preview Center" of "Gold's Gym" which is now 'Urban Active Fitness' on Holland Sylvania Road to get the skinny on what their facility offers. (I drew the short straw in my family, everyone wanted information but someone had to agree to go and get it....)

It's an 8 million dollar facility, and has all the bells and whistles EXCEPT an elevator to get to the 2nd floor.

I asked, as I have an elderly mother whose a bit handicapped, who their market is -- they boast a facility for everyone. When I asked why they have no provisions for getting those who can't hike the stairs easily up there, they told me that 'because they are so big, they are exempt' from having to have an elevator or escalator to get patrons to the 2nd floor who are elderly, special needs etc...

They said everything a patron could need was on both floors. When I pointed out particulars of how that wasn't true, they were adament that they were excluded from having to be ADA compliant -- Anyone got any idea if that is true? Just curious...

Why would anyone build an 8million dollar facility that can't accomodate elderly, special needs, wheel chairs or handicapped?

Do they have to be ADA compliant?

created by anotherblogger on Nov 23, 2007 at 07:05:02 pm     Comments: 5

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This is what I found:

EXCEPTION 1: Elevators are not required in facilities that are less than three stories or that have less than 3000 square feet per story unless the building is a shopping center, a shopping mall, or the professional office of a health care provider, or another type of facility as determined by the Attorney General. The elevator exemption set forth in this paragraph does not obviate or limit in any way the obligation to comply with the other accessibility requirements established in section 4.1.3. For example, floors above or below the accessible ground floor must meet the requirements of this section except for elevator service. If toilet or bathing facilities are provided on a level not served by an elevator, then toilet or bathing facilities must be provided on the accessible ground floor. In new construction if a building or facility is eligible for this exemption but a full passenger elevator is nonetheless planned, that elevator shall meet the requirements of 4.10 and shall serve each level in the building. A full passenger elevator that provides service from a garage to only one level of a building or facility is not required to serve other levels.

from 4.1.3 of http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/reg3a.html#Anchor-Appendix-52467

posted by MaumeeMom on Nov 23, 2007 at 07:33:55 pm     #



Would they have be able to get all the appropriate building permits/licenses if they were required to be ADA compliant, but ignored the provisions?

(I ask, because I'm not sure at what point in the building process someone would investigate ADA compliance. One would think it would come at the permit level, when its still possible to make changes if necessary...rather than after the building was constructed.)

posted by mom2 on Nov 23, 2007 at 09:48:24 pm     #



thanks for the info... the less than 3 stories, is how this is possible. I wonder if it would fall under the 'another type of facility as determined by the Attorney General...' category.. I think it's sad that in 2007, brand new facilities are built to the tune of 8 million that can't or won't accomodate special needs. So much for the wheel chair users, elderly, athletes who are recovering and can't take stairs, or those patrons with special needs and God forbid they have to get a stretcher up there!

posted by anotherblogger on Nov 23, 2007 at 10:44:00 pm     #



It's a simple "rebranding" of the same old standard Gold's Gym meat market. They obviously don't want business from some people as such hints are often not so subtle.
http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2007/11/urban_active_replaces_golds_gy.html

There are nicer facilities down the road on Reynolds.

Or you can buy your own professional equipment to keep dust from reaching the floor:)

I know people that swear by their pilates reformers.

posted by charlatan on Nov 24, 2007 at 02:10:58 pm     #



I just signed myself and two brothers who are both disabled to their new location on Holland Sylvania. The facility is amazing and they have everything that my brothers needed on the 1st floor, the staff was very friendly and accomodating to our situation. This is the best facility to come to our area (I have been to their other locations in Columbus and Cincinnati) and I don't think you should find one thing to say that they are doing wrong. If anything they are bringing something advanced to our area, I don't believe there is anything nicer in our area and I plan on being a member for a very long time.

posted by wondersha on Dec 08, 2007 at 07:53:57 pm     #