# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/81 "2013-08-20T12:14:58Z")
I can see the issue that the neighbor has WRT property values, but a legally permitted, well constructed, wheelchair ramp is not something you can sue over. It’s a bummer that you might get dinged on property value, it can easily be 5 grand out of your pocket when you sell. The only move, if you think the thing is a terrible eyesore, is to discuss landscaping options with the homeowners. There’s a planting bed right in front, they’re obviously doing something to improve the curb appeal. You may be able to come to an agreement with the homeowner on what would work best, long term. Put a nice hedge in front of the ramp, and you’ll barely notice the thing. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/82 "2013-08-20T12:47:05Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Well, I’m clearly on the losing side of this issue. 😉 > > I just don’t see the harm in expecting anything built on property to look as nice as possible. People generally don’t build plain, square concrete block houses. We pay architects a lot of money to design unique homes. Homebuyers expect stone or brick veneer to be added. Or they even clad the outside in painted wood or vinyl. Something to give the home warmth and curb appeal. > > A residential ramp can be fully functional and convenient while still looking good. The railings could have been a nice wrought iron. Shrubby in front. This is a brand new house that probably cost 200k to 350k. Spending a few hundred extra bucks on the ramp isn’t unreasonable. That’s not a pretty ramp, but it’s not particularly ugly, either. My guess would be that the family put up a nice, sturdy ramp as soon as they could. Maybe they intend to prettify it later, maybe they feel they’ve spent enough money on that issue and want to spend money on another problem. Really, though, that ramp isn’t ugly. It’s very functional looking, and the primary consideration of something like that is whether it suits the purpose it was intended for. A ramp should be easy and safe to use, first of all. And if that’s all the money that they can spend, or want to spend, that’s their business. Edit: And the daughter might need room to get in and out of the car, and the garage isn’t big enough. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/83 "2013-08-20T13:46:12Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I am going to go against the grain here and say this family was full of themselves and didn’t take the feelings of their neighbors into consideration before going way overboard. They didn’t need to ruin the neighborhood with such a garish sight, [when all they needed was something cute like this.](http://disabledaccessdenied.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/bullshit-ramp.jpg)🙂 Everybody wins. I can only hope your post is ironic. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/84 "2013-08-20T13:53:17Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > 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. If I were in the market for a new house, the ramp in this story wouldn’t deter me even slightly. If it really were ugly, sure, but this ramp is not ugly. It won’t give anyone Stendhal Syndrome, but it’s not ugly. ---
**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, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/85 "2013-08-20T13:54:01Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I can only hope your post is ironic. Since he deals with that sort of thing on a regular basis, more like heavy on the sarcasm. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/86 "2013-08-20T14:17:08Z")
Having watched my parents go through this on their old house, I can say with some authority that hedges may be a really bad idea. They have to be trimmed to keep them clear of the ramp, otherwise someone is going to get hurt if the person wheeling the chair loses control of it, and also adding additional responsibility to the homeowner. And what about during the winter, if the hedge drops its leaves? The neighbors will bitch if the leaves aren’t raked or otherwise cleaned up, and the ramp will be exposed anyway, so the problem isn’t really solved. Even an evergreen shrub must be kept trimmed for the same reasons, and unless the neighborhood is willing to step up, it’s added work for someone who doesn’t want it. That said, this is the kind of neighbor that makes me want to watch my back. If it’s not the ramp, it’ll be some other damn thing. I don’t even think the ramp is that ugly, just spartan. It’s what the family needs for their daughter, it’s what the city approved, and the neighbor needs to STFU and MHOB. ---
**Author:** ![Uber\_the\_Goober](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/58956e/32.png) [@Uber\_the\_Goober](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uber_the_Goober)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/87 "2013-08-20T14:33:05Z")
I would gleefully welcome the bag-a-douche-io who chose to approach me, at my house, whilst wheeling my disabled family member up the ramp, complaining about the visual aesthetics of said ramp. It would be such a fulfilling thing. So very exhilarating letting them know precisely why their petty concerns are not only trivial and worthless, but baseless, invalid, unkind, and most of all, ridiculous. “What’s that? Oh, you’d like me to further adjust my life to accommodate not only my disabled child, but your mental disability as well? Certainly. Allow me to alleviate you of the burden of experiencing such a dreadful thing. I’ll be right back with my bat.” Cue symphonic overtures and a slow-motion, hi-definition capture of the swinging of the bat, the wild eyed grin on my face, the screams of the oh-so-nosy neighbor, the solid _thunk_ of the bat hitting their face, followed by the slightly lighter wooden _twang_ of the splintered bits of bat ricocheting off the concrete ramp. One less of these guys wandering the streets of 'Murica, interjecting himself where he ought not. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/88 "2013-08-20T14:43:40Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > well you’ve obviously never lived in neighborhood with an association. Imagine every mailbox being built to spec with exact measurements, paint and distance to the street. You can’t add a stick of wood without going before a committee. Not my cup of tea but there you go. Do you honestly think an HOA would have any power to stop this? The ADA exists and busy body blue hairs can’t do a damn thing about it even if they think their property values are lowered. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/89 "2013-08-20T15:08:43Z")
> [@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. Note that even in an HOA community, the HOA [cannot](http://www.lawforhoas.com/hoa/assn21153/documents/fair%20housing%20ada.pdf) (pdf) refuse modifications that provide reasonable accommodations to an owner with a disability. ---
**Author:** ![Aunty\_Social](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@Aunty\_Social](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aunty_Social)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/90 "2013-08-20T15:16:04Z")
I can understand people wanting things to look nice. On the other hand, it hasn’t been that long since people kept disabled kids shut inside because disability was considered shameful. They were suttled in and out of “discreet” entrances - similar to the way certain races used to be required to use the back door or the parking area entrance. Why should a child be required to use the back door/deck/garage entrance of her own home instead of the front door just to meet someone else’s expectation of “curb appeal”? It could be that the back and garage are not architecturally suited for this use (too small, too tight, not meeting certain codes). It could also be that those options were cost-prohibitive. It might be best to assume they are doing the best they can with what they have in order to preserve their kid’s quality of life and dignity - as in being able to use her own front door. If I were to consider moving there, the real negative impact on the “appeal” of the neighborhood is the merciless self-centeredness of the neighbors. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/91 "2013-08-20T15:20:05Z")
The neighbors need to get a life. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/92 "2013-08-20T15:33:26Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > Note that even in an HOA community, the HOA [cannot](http://www.lawforhoas.com/hoa/assn21153/documents/fair%20housing%20ada.pdf) (pdf) refuse modifications that provide reasonable accommodations to an owner with a disability. OTOH, that document also says > [@](#): > > Under Civil Code Section 1360, a > community association must allow an owner to make modifications to his or her > unit and the route to the unit from a public way, so long as the modifications are > compliant with building and safety regulations, the modifications are consistent with > the provisions of the association’s governing documents relating to safety and > aesthetics, the modifications do not prevent reasonable passage by other residents, > the modifications are removed by the owner when the unit is no longer occupied by > the disabled individual, and the owner submits plans and specifications to the > association for review. > > The association may (and should) require that the owner > submit plans for the modifications in order to ensure consistency with the design of > the association and do not negatively impact its architectural integrity, and require > the execution of an agreement that the owner return the property to its original > condition upon leaving the property (and the association should consider having > that agreement recorded as a covenant running with the land). They cannot prevent you from putting up a necessary ramp, but they are not entirely powerless, either. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/93 "2013-08-20T16:02:14Z")
I can’t believe that people worry about stuff like this. It’s a ramp that makes the house more liveable for their daughter, why on earth would a neighbor have a problem? The neighbors should mind their own business. ---
**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, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/94 "2013-08-20T16:15:56Z")
Fake stone and wrought iron sounds a lot tackier than the simple, modern, functional ramp that is there. If this was a historic building with a strong architectural style, I could see an argument for keeping that in mind. But a concrete porch wouldn’t look out of place on the house in question, no does the ramp. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/95 "2013-08-20T16:17:54Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Wow, I was expecting some sort of ramshackle pile of rubble. That is a great looking ramp! > > I’d rather buy a house next to/across from that than most of the shitty, overgrown, weed-infested yards in my neighborhood (and I don’t hardly mind weed-infested yards). Exactly. It’s a new, neat, well-built ramp. What is possibly not to like about it? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/96 "2013-08-20T16:29:13Z")
> [@stpauler](#): > > Wow, how embarrassing for the complaining neighbors to be so loudly self-involved. Maybe we can plant some shrubbery in front of them to keep them out of sight. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/97 "2013-08-20T16:31:33Z")
Oh, it’s just that curious Colorado style libertarianism that says “fuck you, I’m suing your ass.” ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/98 "2013-08-20T16:41:31Z")
> [@Colophon](#): > > Exactly. It’s a new, neat, well-built ramp. What is possibly not to like about it? 😕 It does have a bit of a… loading dock feel to it. Functional, neatly constructed, but distinctly lacking in charm. Not that I have any idea how one would construct a charming wheelchair ramp. Perhaps charming is just not in the cards, and the neighbor should be thrilled that it’s tidy instead of a hot mess that will be tipping over in 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/99 "2013-08-20T16:49:31Z")
Haven’t read the thread, since I don’t have time. Has anyone mentioned the story out of Canada, where a neighbour suggested an autistic boy be euthanised and his ‘non-retarded’ parts be harvested? Apparently, the woman doesn’t like the noises he makes. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682/100 "2013-08-20T16:50:11Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > It does have a bit of a… loading dock feel to it. Functional, neatly constructed, but distinctly lacking in charm. > > Not that I have any idea how one would construct a charming wheelchair ramp. Perhaps charming is just not in the cards, and the neighbor should be thrilled that it’s tidy instead of a hot mess that will be tipping over in 5 years. Slap a few Hello Kitty stickers on that baby and you’re good to go. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/neighbors-complain-about-wheelchair-ramp-in-front-of-home/666682.md?page=6)