A new face for State College’s planning department may be what the borough needs to combat some criticisms from the local disabled community.
Maureen Safko took over as senior planner in April, and since then has been catching up with the current state of disability housing and accessibility.
“You want everyone to be accommodated, of course, but you have to do it in a smart way,” Safko said. “It’s so important to involve disabled people because your product will be better.”
One of those people who would like to be more involved is State College resident Joel Solkoff. Solkoff, 69, has been a paraplegic for 20 years.
“I think they take it so not serious that they don’t even think it’s an issue,” Solkoff said.
Following treatment for Hodgkin’s Disease, Solkoff slowly lost the use of his legs and is bound to his wheelchair these days. From that wheelchair, he has tried his best to change what he sees as a broken system.
The legislation he proposed is two-part. The first is an ordinance on ‘visit-ability’ requirements in the borough taken from the Austin, Texas, city council. ‘Visit-ability’ concerns what it sounds like — the ability for disabled persons to visit a home in the borough. These requirements would include an entrance with no steps somewhere around the building and a half bath on the first floor with a wide enough door for a wheelchair.
The problem for Solkoff is that sometimes his religion requires him to enter a private home. Solkoff is a member of the Brit Shalom Congregation.
When a member of Brit Shalom dies, Solkoff said he often is asked to help form the Minyan. A Minyan is a prayer group of 10 men.
After the death of a Jewish man or woman, the Minyan performs the Kaddish, a Jewish hymn. This usually take place in the house of the deceased or their family, he said.
Solkoff said he is sometimes unable to attend because the houses are not accessible to him. He said he misses about 10 Minyans a year because he isn’t able to get into the building to participate.
The second piece, an accessibility ordinance, details requirements for new rental buildings with fewer than four units. It would make a stipulation on every rental permit commissioned by the council that the rental property be accessible.
Neither of these ordinances are retroactive and don’t apply to remodels or additions. Current State College homeowners won’t need to update their houses if it’s passed.
“How we do accessibility is something that keeps coming up,” planning director Ed LeClear said when Solkoff first proposed the changes. “I think it’s something that should be added to a zoning ordinance.”
Since then, however, Solkoff said nothing has been done — despite his attempt at the May 8 council meeting to again have his legislation discussed.
While a religious issue for Solkoff, he said it’s an economic issue for the borough.
“This is a greed issue. We’re surrounded by thriving residential communities for retired people who are unable to or have great difficulty getting into the borough,” Solkoff said. More accessible housing would allow them to live closer and visit the stores more often, he said.
Senior planner Safko said the borough is making good faith efforts to help the disabled community. Through the redevelopment authority, which handles property acquisitions, the borough is expanding accessibility in some of the locations they have purchased.
“It’s optional and no one’s requiring the borough to do it, but we are trying to make it accessible,” she said.
In addition, Safko said the borough is continuing to purchase new ramps, replace old infrastructure and improve the community areas at the Bellaire Court affordable housing units. With Addison Court in downtown State College, Yorkshire Village and a few other locations, Safko said the borough recognizes the need for having accessible housing.
