It's a shame that only one of these homes over the years was ever made handicap accessible. It is not that hard to do. I enter, but knew I would have to do alot of adapting in order to live in one of these beautiful homes. Such a shame. The garage is not attached and only has stairs: alot of stairs. I think I stopped counting when it reached 17. With a standard height of 7" that would mean it's about a 10' climb. with groceries.. and how about for those who aren't even handicapped. When it rains. they have to run with their shopping bags. This is a very old school design. Anyway, just disappointing. Granted the house is beautiful, just could be a better design. just some thoughts.
When I was there, I don't remember seeing garages on the front/side of ANY of the homes in Serenbe. Most likely it's part of their very (as in VERY)strict codes as to how something is to be built, how it looks, etc. It may well be that the homes all have an ally behind them that you drive into to reach the garages. In the case of the Dream Home being on such a sloped lot, the "ally" that goes up behind the house to that garage is of course, on a hill.
Right up the street people who lived in the attached townhomes seemed to be allowed to park curbside in front of the units, too. Maybe they allow that and someone could do that at the Dream Home should they have a disability, but you'd still have to go up a few steps to the "daylight basement" front entry.
Posts: 190 | Location: Atlanta, GA. USA | Registered: Mar 02, 2003
Originally posted by Jebeenie: ...just disappointing. Granted the house is beautiful, just could be a better design. just some thoughts.
This is an idea venue, Jeb, so give us your ideas. The home to which you refer I believe had an elevator. Other than that, handicap needs run the gambit.
Posts: 3066 | Location: FL | Registered: Jan 08, 2003
this is also very specifically a "green" home--a component of which is healthiest living such as less chemicals, noxious fumes, etc in the breathing air of the homeowner.
this may be part of the reason why the garage is detached from the home. garages, aside from car gases and fumes, also often house leftover paints, tools, fuels, and other items with potentially hazardous emissions.
in a few other dream/green years, i have read that if a disabled person wins, the home will be retrofitted. i haven't read that for this one though. of course, any winner who finds the home unlivable, can take the cash prize and build their own home to spec!This message has been edited. Last edited by: 22petite,
What type of disability should the house be built to accomodate? Other than mobility problems, should the house be adapted to the hearing impaired, the blind, those highly allergic to common building materials? Should all counter heights be low; all bathrooms barrier free? There are scores of other disabilities that require special accomodations - should the house be built to satisfy all those needs too?
To my knowledge no winner of any of these houses has kept it for more than two years, but has "cashed out" one way or another with many buying or building what worked for them with the proceeds. That option is available to anyone with special needs or even unique wants.
Those type of needs generally would ahve to be included in the building project, but with so many types of handicaps, in a contest like this, a near impossibility not knowing the situation of the winner. A few homes back, HGTV offered the winner assistance to meet his handicap need, but he choose the cash option which was a win situation for him. With the cash option, you would still be a winner.
This contest is so much fun. I love to dream of the possibilities.
*****Catch the Excitement***** ******Dreams and happiness to all my MB friends****** ~ ~ ♥ ~ ~♥ ~ ~♥~~♥~~♥ a flapjaw and a Sheltie collector avatar fan Real Friends Believe in Your Dreams
Posts: 5055 | Location: Whittier, California | Registered: Mar 23, 2005
I would be so happy to win, I would not even complain about handicap accessibility. Before anyone asks, yes, I am handicapped but, just to win a beautiful home, I can't believe anyone would ever complain! I love old farmhouses, my Grandma grew up in one and I spent all my free time there . You can't finds a more beautiful home. It may need updating initially, but the srructure and character can't be beat!
Posts: 28 | Location: East Petersburg, PA | Registered: May 30, 2012
In the sweepstakes info it states that in the event a winner needs modifications for assessibility HGTV will work with them. As was posted previously there are so many types of handicapps it would be impossible to cover everything. For example a hearing impaired person would need flashing lights when the door bell rings!
Posts: 340 | Location: Nebraska | Registered: Dec 17, 2006
