The Challenge
The retail center had received a demand letter from an accessibility advocacy organization citing six ADA violations: two accessible spaces with non-compliant slope (measured 2.4% and 2.8% cross slope exceeding the 2% maximum), missing van-accessible designation, no tow-away signage, faded symbols, and a missing accessible path from parking to the anchor tenant's entrance. The center had 90 days to achieve compliance.
Our Approach
We began with a full accessibility audit using a digital level to measure slopes at all 8 existing accessible spaces. Four spaces were found to meet slope requirements; two required surface work. We ground and patched the surface of the non-compliant spaces to bring them within the 2% maximum tolerance, then restenciled all 8 spaces with California-compliant symbols, text, and access aisle markings. Van-accessible signage, tow-away signs, and international symbol signs were installed at required heights. We documented all work with photographs and measurements for the center's legal file.