# Neighbors complain about wheelchair ramp in front of home. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682 "2013-08-20T01:32:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/1 "2013-08-20T01:32:28Z")
I sympathize with the family and understand they need special access for their home. But why not put a ramp inside the garage and use the garage entrance? Or at least plant shrubs (azaleas or something) to hide that butt ugly gray concrete. There’s even a [cultured stone product](http://www.savoylandscape.com/files/picture-010.jpg) that can be applied that would give texture and earth tone color to that concrete. Theres a follow up on the local tv station where a civil rights lawyer Amy Robertson says the Gieseghs are protected under the Fair Housing Act. [http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/NEIGHBORS-WANT-FAMILYS-HANDICAP-RAMP-REMOVED-218930251.html](http://www.kktv.com/home/headlines/NEIGHBORS-WANT-FAMILYS-HANDICAP-RAMP-REMOVED-218930251.html) Theres a house on my street with a disabled person. Their ramp is integrated into a deck at the rear of the home. You can’t even tell it’s there just driving by. I understand they have a right to the ramp. But shouldn’t they be expected to do it in a more eye appealing way? > **[Colorado family threatened with lawsuit over wheelchair ramp](https://www.nydailynews.com/2013/08/19/colorado-family-threatened-with-lawsuit-over-wheelchair-ramp/)** > > The Giesegh family says it’s all about their 16-year-old daughter. A neighbor says it’s all about curb appeal. Vincent and Heidi Giesegh of Fountain, Colo., say their neighbors have thr… > [@](#): > > The Giesegh family says it’s all about their 16-year-old daughter. A neighbor says it’s all about curb appeal. > > Vincent and Heidi Giesegh of Fountain, Colo., say their neighbors have threated to sue if they don’t dismantle a concrete wheelchair ramp recently built in their front yard. > > “I mean, I’m just kind of disappointed that a neighbor of mine that doesn’t — I don’t think he really understands the necessity of handicap-accessible homes,” Vincent Giesegh said in an interview with KKTV in Colorado Springs. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/2 "2013-08-20T01:44:55Z")
The local tv station website has a street view photo that really shows how bad it looks. Especially in a brand new subdivision. I’d definitely have that cultured stone product installed along the house’s foundation and along the ramps sides. That would help 1000%. This house’s foundation looks really nice. I could see that ramp done in similar material. [![](http://www.savoylandscape.com/files/picture-010.jpg) ](http://www.savoylandscape.com/files/picture-010.jpg) Some steps clad in cultured stone. [![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHHe8UGiARo/TsVY4nEOzXI/AAAAAAAAARg/bU7iUqctdXM/s200/037.JPG) ](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHHe8UGiARo/TsVY4nEOzXI/AAAAAAAAARg/bU7iUqctdXM/s200/037.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![Bartman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@Bartman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bartman)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/3 "2013-08-20T01:45:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I understand they have a right to the ramp. But shouldn’t they be expected to do it in a more eye appealing way? Nope. There are no shortages of covenant controlled communities here in Colorado. If the neighbors wanted a say in what their neighbors houses looked like, they should have chosen one of those. The family met the legal requirements and consulted with the city about it. If the neighbors want something nicer looking, then they can talk to the family and offer to pay for it. Otherwise they should shut up and deal with it. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/4 "2013-08-20T01:50:33Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I sympathize with the family and understand they need special access for their home. But why not put a ramp inside the garage and use the garage entrance? I know you didn’t mean it this way but you do understand this sounds dangerously close to telling black people to use the back enterance back in the day? > [@](#): > > I understand they have a right to the ramp. But shouldn’t they be expected to do it in a more eye appealing way? No. ---
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/5 "2013-08-20T01:58:27Z")
Wow, how embarrassing for the complaining neighbors to be so loudly self-involved. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/6 "2013-08-20T02:03:54Z")
Just plant some squared-off evergreen hedges around it. Big deal. I don’t think it looks terrible. It looks like - a wheelchair ramp. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/7 "2013-08-20T02:05:12Z")
Oh my goodness! Have the neighbours nothing better to do than complain about that? It’s a ramp… it’s for a person who can’t use stairs. How shallow and mean-minded does one have to be to find that offensive to look at? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/8 "2013-08-20T02:07:35Z")
No one is questioning the need for the ramp. But there are ways of incorporating it so that it doesn’t bring down property values. Right now it’s very stark and commercial looking. Would you spend 350k for a new house across the street from this one? I sure wouldn’t. Hedges are a good idea. here’s the street view I mentioned earlier. I wish they had used that same brick veneer that’s already on the house. [![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHHe8UGiARo/TsVY4nEOzXI/AAAAAAAAARg/bU7iUqctdXM/s200/037.JPG) ](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CHHe8UGiARo/TsVY4nEOzXI/AAAAAAAAARg/bU7iUqctdXM/s200/037.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/9 "2013-08-20T02:07:57Z")
That is a perfectly fine-looking ramp, particularly for a region which gets the occasional snowfall. I’d be concerned about somebody trying to navigate a snow-covered ramp in winter if it weren’t sturdy, with strong grab-rails all along. If the neighbors are that concerned about the look, perhaps they can pool their resources and provide a shrubbery or something to shield their delicate eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/10 "2013-08-20T02:09:36Z")
While I’ll agree with the neighbors that it is a butt-ugly installation, I don’t see that they will have any leg to stand on getting anything done about it. They’d be better off and cheaper done offering to pay to have an attractive facing applied to it. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/11 "2013-08-20T02:11:36Z")
Maybe they should hide their spastic daughter away, too? ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/12 "2013-08-20T02:11:52Z")
That doesn’t look so bad. What is wrong with people? It’s a wheelchair ramp for a 16 year old girl. How do they think their complaints make her feel? Assholes. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/13 "2013-08-20T02:14:02Z")
Wow, that has got to be the most depressing example of complete self-absorption I’ve seen in a while. What a useless bunch of people. What’s worse is the ramp doesn’t even look that bad. It’s clean, proportional, made of normal building materials, etc. The wheelchair ramp outside of my grandmother’s house looks a hundred times uglier. But considering that they cost a couple thousand bucks, decorating it isn’t really a priority. If I were the family involved, I’d paint the whole thing pink. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/14 "2013-08-20T02:18:26Z")
For real. What’s ugly here is the nasty group of people that call themselves neighbors. I wanted to reply earlier but I was stunned into silence by the scale of the douchebaggery. And no, a disabled person need not creep round the back for fear of offending someone’s delicate sensibilities. They have the right – the legal right, as well as the moral right – to come and go in a way convenient for them. ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/15 "2013-08-20T02:18:37Z")
That looks like a pretty awesome wheelchair ramp to me. It wouldn’t fit in the garage, at least not without filling it up. It looks like they have made a little area to plant something along the side, which will look nicer. I wouldn’t expect “pretty” to be anywhere near top priority in budgeting for a project like this. They can always add extra features later. The neighbors are assholes for complaining. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/16 "2013-08-20T02:20:49Z")
> [@Bartman](#): > > Nope. There are no shortages of covenant controlled communities here in Colorado. If the neighbors wanted a say in what their neighbors houses looked like, they should have chosen one of those. The family met the legal requirements and consulted with the city about it. If the neighbors want something nicer looking, then they can talk to the family and offer to pay for it. Otherwise they should shut up and deal with it. That’s what I think. There are requirements that neighbours have to meet even in non-controlled neighbourhoods, but that’s for things like weed control, grass length, cleaning snow off sidewalks, etc., not for disallowing people to put necessary, legal wheelchair ramps up. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/17 "2013-08-20T02:23:20Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I understand they have a right to the ramp. But shouldn’t they be expected to do it in a more eye appealing way? No. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/18 "2013-08-20T02:25:06Z")
I’d start escalating if I had neighbours like that. For every complaint about the ramp I get: a pink flamingo goes on the front lawn. ---
**Author:** ![NotDeadYet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NotDeadYet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotDeadYet)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/19 "2013-08-20T02:27:12Z")
They don’t sound at all like neighbors – at least not in the “love your neighbor as yourself” sense. More like fellow homeowners. “Neighbors” would get together and offer to help the family with landscaping, etc. having a disabled 16 yr old daughter can’t be easy and some understanding and genuine concern that translated into real help would go a long way from turning a group of homeowners into a neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/20 "2013-08-20T02:28:07Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > But why not put a ramp inside the garage and use the garage entrance? [URL=“[Colorado family threatened with lawsuit over wheelchair ramp – New York Daily News](http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/colorado-family-threatened-legal-action-wheelchair-ramp-article-1.1430839)”] The garage is too short. The standard is one foot of ramp for each inch of rise. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682.md?page=2)