Subcommittee reappoints Walter Park to Access Appeals Commission after ABB program update

On Feb. 17, 2022, the Building Inspection Commission nomination subcommittee recommended reappointments to the Access Appeals Commission and received an update from Commissioner Walter Park on the Accessible Building Entry (ABB) program.

Park said the ABB program covers about 25,000 retail storefronts and that about 11,000 applications had been submitted. He added that approximately 8,000 applicants "have claimed some sort of categorical exemption or that they already comply," but that closure and documentation of those cases is incomplete. Park also said staff reported 266 hardship-exemption requests whose status was not clearly recorded and urged staff to retrieve and report the current disposition of those cases.

Commissioners praised Park’s service and recommended reappointment; the motion to reappoint was moved and seconded and carried unanimously on roll call. Commissioners and staff discussed bringing the ABB program work back to activity as COVID restrictions ease and addressing backlog and data-recording gaps.