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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
