Appeal 33751

ICC A117.1 - Section 402.2

ICC A117.1 - Section 402.2 Components of an Accessible
Accessible routes shall consist of one or more of the following components: Walking surfaces with a slope not steeper than 1:20, doors and doorways, ramps, curb ramps excluding the flared sides, elevators, and platform lifts. All components of an accessible route shall comply with the applicable portions of this standard.

To facilitate greater access to this multipurpose space, both for potential patrons and employees.

The chairlift is our last resort and a crucial improvement which would give the staff and artist of Imago access to work spaces on the second floor. The intent is give our senior volunteers, employees and contracted workers who have difficulty climbing stairs a viable means of access to the second floor which houses rehearsal space and offices for artists, actors and staff. Please note: We have done our due diligence exploring other options which have included an extensive search for funding for an elevator which proved impossible despite a 5-year-long fundraising campaign (which fell short by about 50% of our $600,000 goal). We have investigated and researched the installation of a wheel chair lift to learn it is impractical at the facility because of the limited ceiling height on the stair landing. This chairlift appeal is our last resort to solve this challenging but solvable conundrum.

Our theatre level is on the main floor where our programming and public activities take place. However our preparation and administrative spaces to support these first-floor productions take place on the second floor. The second floor is a space for artists to create, write and develop work and for our management, administrative staff to conduct their duties. The second floor services our designers to design the projects. We need a large part of our staff to maneuver easier to the second floor. It is for these volunteers and employees we seek to install this chairlift. (Please note: For members that can not access the second floor with a chair lift, we provide spaces for their activities to take place on the first floor whether they are artists or other members of our team.) Imago Theatre has been fortunate to receive a generous grant from Prosper Portland, a grant which will help us create a crucial revenue stream during this harsh economic period by increasing programming to the first floor programming. By adding the chairlift we can employ a wider spectrum of people and in turn increase programming and revenue to projects presented to the public in the first floor theatre. Time is of the essence, however. Our requirements from Prosper Portland stipulate that the project must be completed by June 30. Without your official go-ahead, we will be unable to proceed on this important part of the grant, thereby jeopardizing our balancing of our operational budget which is the goal of our Prosper Portland grant. We're more than happy to provide you with endorsements from the city departments of Prosper Portland and the city’s Office of Arts and Culture should these help get this appeal approved. We hope your office can approve our request so that we remain one of the most affordable and centrally located venues for small and mid size theaters, art organizations and individual artists to present their work to Portland and the Northwest region.