Two weeks ago, a well-attended event in Greenwich celebrated the 34th anniversary of President George HW Bush’s signing of the ADA to ensure the civil rights of people with disabilities.
The event was organized by the Office of the First Selectmen, And They included the Commissioner for Human Services, members of his AAdvisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities and the four members of the Greenwich delegation.
The background to the event included disagreements over intersection improvements on Greenwich Avenue, including shortened crosswalks that First Selectman Fred Camillo and the DPW said must comply with ADA law.
In addition to bringing public schools into compliance with ADA regulations, accessibility issues are now a focus in the central business district.
The metal A-frame signs that have been a common sight on Greenwich Avenue in recent years have been removed, but people feel that the new tree pits, with their protruding Belgian block edges, are a tripping hazard.
Two of the new 4-by-8-foot tree holes at the end of Greenwich Avenue. June 9, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
The The fate of a black locust tree at 125 Greenwich Ave. in front of Shreve Crump & Low drew a number of people to a Zoom hearing last week. The tree’s roots are causing some bulging of the sidewalk and Mr. Camillo said this is a hazard. But sSeveral residents urged the city to find a solution that would protect the healthy tree.
On Monday, the tree warden issued a statement calling for efforts to protect the tree.
On his August 9 radio show on WGCH 1490am, a caller said the broken elevator at Greenwich Station posed a challenge for people with limited mobility.
The elevator provides an alternative to the stairs from the ground floor on Railroad Ave to the waiting room and southbound platform.
The caller said the elevator had been out of service since before renovations began on the north side of Greenwich Plaza, where the demolition of the movie theater building had been a highlight of the summer.
A sign on the elevator in the lobby explains that alternate access to the New York-bound platform is via the northbound New Haven platform. From this platform, you can use the two elevators to go up and across the pedestrian bridge.
Signage on the elevator on the lobby level of Greenwich Station. August 11, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Signage on the ground-level elevator at Greenwich Station. August 11, 2024 Photo: Leslie Yager
Double lifts connect the northbound and southbound platforms to Greenwich station via a pedestrian bridge. August 11, 2024
“I’ve been following all the ADA stuff – the ceremony and everything,” the caller told Camillo. “Why is the elevator in the station still broken? It’s been like this for weeks, so no one who needs help can get to the platform to go into town.”
“I didn’t know that, and it’s all privately owned,” Camillo said. “The whole area is being rehabilitated and there shouldn’t be any problems in the future.”
“It took months for them to even start construction,” the caller said.
Mr. Camillo said he was unaware of the elevator situation and would contact the developer.
As it turns out, Kim DePra, marketing and communications director for the Ashforth Company, explained in an email Monday, “While we own the station lobby, the Town of Greenwich is responsible for maintaining the elevator in the station. They are aware of the problem and are working to fix it.”
“When the renovation is complete, the existing elevator system will be completely replaced and the path from the elevator to the platform will be more direct and visible with the removal of the outdated ConnDot/Metro-North ticketing and service areas. So we are all confident that things will be much improved after the renovation.”
An email sent to the First Selectman’s office and the building construction and maintenance director on Monday was not returned.
More information Greenwich Junctionthe new name for the north side of the Greenwich Plaza complex, is available online.
Stairs in Greenwich Station, photographed at the event announcing the first renovation plans. July 9, 2019 Photo: Leslie Yager
