What Does a Blind Person Need in a Condo, Anyway?
A few blind folks to return. (Photo courtesy of DMPED)
Georgetown Metrocentric has been following the progress of the Hurt Home, a former house for the blind at 30th and R NW that the city has decided to sell to the Argos Group, which will convert the old building into condos. According to GM, the neighbors are not terribly pleased about the plan, mostly for the parking crush that 41 new units (and 36 parking spaces) will create.
A meeting has been scheduled for June 9th at the Renwick Chapel to discuss the latest version of the design. The developer won’t release more details until the city gives the go-ahead, but Argos’ Gilbert Cardenas—who wasn’t aware of the meeting when Housing Complex called a couple days ago to check in—did speak with pride about the several units that will be specially reserved and designed for blind people.
What does that mean, exactly?
Not a whole lot, it turns out. The most important thing is to use varying floor and wall materials, which help blind people “see” the world around them. Walls should be at 90 degree angles, and steps should be avoided as much as possible. And because many blind people can still see a little bit, it’s still important to have bright lighting. And Braille, naturally.
No response from the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Development on a sale price, but considering how much they’re giving properties away for these days, we don’t expect it’ll break Argos’ bank.
5:31 pm
Lydia, has Argos ever gone forth and finished the 2 deals that the DC government awarded to them per the Business Journal? The Argos web site shows them as properties that "WILL". Sounds like they are getting second helpings before they finish their firsts. Just wondering.
2:52 pm
That is the most moronic thing I have ever heard. If a blind person needs things labled in Braille in their own house then they are mentally retarded and shouldn't be living alone in the first place. What praytell are they going to label in Braille? "DISHWASHER" "OVEN" That is rediculous. Blind people do not have braille on their computer keyboards, their telephone key pads, their intercom systems in apartment buildings, their calculators, etc. They don't even usually put Braille onto oven dials or drier and washer controls. They might put raised line arrows, but that's it. Right angles only? Again, utterly stupid. If someone gets lost in their own house because of a zig zag hallway, circular floor plan or decorative circular alcove, then they again, must be mentally deficent. How do these developers think that blind people navigate NYC, subways, hiking outdoors, no right angles there, college campuses, the work place... Good lighting is all well and good, but all apartments should have lots of sunshine and fresh air, that's actually law that there must be windows. Contrasting surfaces are also stupid. If a blind person can't tell that they've entered their kitchen, by the fact of spacial perception, mussle memory and that their fridge is humming in the corner, and it smells like last night's freshly made pizza sauce and there is a kitchen table there, then they need to be institutionalized. Sighted people get it into their heads that it is so difficult to be blind, to adapt things for blind people. While some gajets do make life easier, a lot of it is a huge waste of time, money and resources. Gah!
11:48 pm
Gilberto Cardenas, the head of the Argos group, is a terribly dishonest and shady guy. His business practices and ethics have in the past have been unethical to say the least. Argos has done a horrible job with seeing past projects through and this will be no exception. Look past the façade people… Cardenas and gang are not to be trusted!
9:35 pm
THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORDS.....YOU ARE KIND AND OPEN...GOD BE WITH YOU...TOM