1. Name and address of project for which the waiver is requested:

Name:

Street:

City:

Zip Code:






Local Building Department Contact Information
















Applicant Information:


2. Name of Applicant. If other than the owner, please indicate relationship of applicant to owner in space provided:


First Name:

Last Name:

Street:

City:



Zip code:

Phone:

Fax:

Email:

Relationship to owner:


Owner Information:


3. Please enter the owner information below. If the owner and the applicant are not the same person, please upload a written authorization by owner in space provided:




Owner First Name:

Owner Last Name:

Street:

City:



Zip code:

Phone:

Fax:

Email:



Written Authorization:




Project and Facility Type:



4. Please check one of the following:



5. Type of facility. Please describe the building (square footage, number of floors). Define the use of the building (i.e., restaurant, office, retail, recreation, hotel/motel, etc.)







Description:
Existing 2-story building built in 1953 with retail and offices on ground floor and proposed new retail (nail salon) on second floor. Building has an existing central curved stair and a secondary stair in the rear over the electrical room. Existing secondary stair is too small and does not meet current code.


Construction Cost:



6. Project Construction Cost (Provide cost for new construction, the addition, or the alteration):

Summary:
The tenant buildout cost for the proposed salon space is approximately $125,000.00

Construction Cost upload:


7. Has there been any construction activity on this building during the past three years?


Cost of Construction:

Comments:
Building Official Recommendation upload:



Construction Status:




8. Project Status: Please check the phase of construction that best describes your project at the time of this application. Describe status.



*Briefly explain why the request has now been referred to the Commission.
Upon presentation for building permit, the city's building department provided a comment requesting vertical accessibility. Upon analysis of the current space, introducing a lift or elevator is not feasible and adapting a chair lift to the curved stairs in not possible due to the configuration of the stair. Building Official then requested we attain a waiver.

Requirements to be Waived.




9. Requirements requested to be waived. Please reference the applicable section of Florida law. Only Florida-specific accessibility requirements may be waived.

Issue 1: Florida-specific hotel/motel rooms Minimum height in parking structures Accessible parking
Vertical accessibility Toilet rooms
Private Other
Tenant space is located on the second floor of an existing building that does not have vertical accessibility. Current vertical circulation is through a curved stair or a small secondary stair leading to the rear of the property. The building is built out to the property lines, prohibiting any additions. The central space where both stairs are located does not afford sufficient space to add a lift or elevator. Due to the curved stair, a chair lift cannot be adapted to the existing stair.


Issue 2: Florida-specific hotel/motel rooms Minimum height in parking structures Accessible parking
Vertical accessibility Toilet rooms
Private Other Need Additional Space
Issue 3: Florida-specific hotel/motel rooms Minimum height in parking structures Accessible parking
Vertical accessibility Toilet rooms
Private Other Need Additional Space

Grounds for waiver.


10. Grounds for Waiver: The Florida Building Commission may grant waivers of Florida-specific accessibility requirements upon a determination of unnecessary, unreasonable or extreme hardship. Please describe how this project meets the following hardship criteria. Explain all that would apply for consideration of granting the waiver.

NOTE:**


The current vertical circulation consist of a curved stair and a secondary small stair (not meeting code) bisecting the building 2/3 of it's length. There are existing tenants on the ground floor - retail space and a small office. The building is built out to the property lines (it is located in the urban downtown area of Coral Gables). In order to introduce an elevator or lift, the owner would need to remove the existing tenant, reduce the tenant areas, redesign the entire entry area of the building and redesign the stairs (as per discussion with Fire Department regarding this scenario). The building has been operating since 1953 in this condition and has received minor modifications throughout the years to accommodate the changing tenants.





Cost estimates have not been given at this time due to the complexity of the cascading issues that would result from adding accessible vertical circulation. Cost implications involve reduced tenant areas (reduction in rental income), redesign of facade - (Coral Gables Architectural Review Board provides strict comments as to the aesthetics of all buildings in the city, especially those in the Spanish Mediterranean Style and typically result in increased construction cost). An improvement of this level would also trigger updating fire code requirements that would most certainly entail redesign of the existing stairs (both of them) and would effectively reduce more the tenant spaces, rendering the building impractical for use.


Cost Estimates For Compliance:










Licensed Design Professional Comments.


11. Licensed Design Professional: Where a licensed design professional has designed the project, his or her comments, including his or her signature and professional seal, MUST be uploaded.




Comments:
See attached letter for reasons we are seeking a waiver.

Design Professional First Name: Design Professional Last Name: Street Address: City: State:

Zip: Email Address: Phone:

Additional Documentation.


12. Upload Additional Documentation: Please upload any documentation such as plans, photographs, or anything that will assist the Council and the Commission to determine the appropriate resolution of your request.