Peking Cuisine
870 Walnut St.
Newton, MA 02459
Phone: 617-969-0888
Fax: (617)6300166
www.pekingcuisine.net
Tony, Kevin and I went to Peking Cuisine in Newton and found it to be wheelchair accessible with just a few minor problems. Parking is located right in front of the main entrance. There are two entry doors you will need help with opening for neither are automatic. Once inside the first entry door you will need to make a sharp turn to get into the second entry door which is difficult for there is not much room to turn your wheelchair.
Once inside I found that the restaurant has good lighting which is good for visually impaired persons. I found that the aisles are too narrow for me to wheel to a table for the tables are crowded too close together. The table my friends and I sat at was at a good height for my wheelchair. Our waitress was very courteous and kind and took the time to listen to me when I told her my lunch order. The food and service was great and I really enjoyed watching the baseball game on the large flat screen TV that is perfectly positioned for all to see.
The restroom is very clean and spacious and has the required safety bars at a perfect height around the toilet. The accessible sink is at good height for me in my wheelchair but my friends had to remove the crate full of cleaning supplies that were under the sink before I could access it. I also noticed that the pipes under the accessible sink are not covered as is now ADA required. I did find the soap dispenser to be at a reachable height but the towel dispenser and the mirror is set too high.
I give Peking Cuisine THREE STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the other Two Stars, they would need to install automatic entry doors, widen the space between tables, remove the crate of cleaning supplies from under the accessible sink, place protective covering around the exposed pipes under the accessible sink and lower the restroom mirror and towel dispenser.
November 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Peking Cuisine
Great job Kenny & Co you have been quite busy this week!
Here are some of the MA AAB regulations requiring access be created if/when an area is renovated and a building permit is issued;
This may apply to the entrance;
25.3 VESTIBULES
Between any two hinged or pivoted doors, there shall be a minimum of 48 inches (48″ = 1219mm) plus the width of any door swinging into the space.
The remainder of Kenny’ comments are in quotations, the applicable AAB reg is in Parenthesis
“widen the space between tables”(AAB reg-17.2.2 A 36 inch (36″ = 914mm) access aisle shall be provided between all accessible tables. No seating shall overlap the access aisle.)
“remove the crate of cleaning supplies from under the accessible sink” (AAB reg-2.6 MAINTENANCE OF ACCESS FEATURES At all times, accessibility features must be maintained and fully operational. (i.e. access aisles kept clear at all times, mechanical devices be kept in operating condition, etc.)
“place protective covering around the exposed pipes under the accessible sink” (AAB reg-30.9.5 Piping: Sink traps and drains shall be located as close to rear walls as possible. Hot water and drain pipes exposed under sinks shall be recessed, insulated, or guarded. There shall be no sharp or abrasive surfaces under sinks.)
“and lower the restroom mirror” (AAB reg-30.11 MIRROR
The top of any shelf and or bottom of any mirror that is provided above a sink shall be set with the bottom edge of the reflecting surface no higher than 40 inches (40″ = 1016mm) above the finish floor.)
“and towel dispenser.” (AAB reg-30.12 DISPENSERS
Towel dispensers, drying devices, or other types of devices and dispensers shall have at least one of each device mounted within the zone of reach. At least one of each device shall be located within reach of a person using the accessible sink and shall comply with 521 CMR 39.5, Operation.)
All of these access barriers can be corrected thru an AAB general building complaint if a building permit indicates work performed on that area or a group of building permits indicates that the renovations triggered full compliance to the 521 CMR because the cost of the renovations equalled or exceeded 30% of the fair & full value of the building at the time the permit/s were issued.
(AAB reg-3.2 NEW CONSTRUCTION All new construction of public buildings/facilities shall comply fully with 521 CMR.)
(AAB reg-3.3 EXISTING BUILDINGS All additions to, reconstruction, remodeling, and alterations or repairs of existing public buildings or facilities, which require a building permit or which are so defined by a state or local inspector, shall be governed by all applicable subsections in 521 CMR 3.00: JURISDICTION.)
(AAB reg-3.5 WORK PERFORMED OVER TIME When the work performed on a building is divided into separate phases or projects or is under separate building permits, the total cost of such work in any 36 month period shall be added together in applying 521 CMR 3.3, Existing Buildings.)
(AAB reg-3.3.2 If the work performed, including the exempted work, amounts to 30% or more of the full and fair cash value (see 521 CMR 5.00) of the building the entire building is required to comply with 521 CMR.
a. Where the cost of constructing an addition to a building amounts to 30% or more of the full and fair cash value of the existing building, both the addition and the existing building must be fully accessible.)
After review and/or getting a copy of any applicable building permits your next step is to determine the full & fair value of the building at the time the permit/s were issued. This can be done by going to the town/city’ office of the Assessor, sometimes town’/city’ provide this info on thier web site which can make the process easier. If you need the assessed value of a building from a previous year you can request that from the Assessor. Only the value of the building is applicable to establishing jurisdiction, the value of the land doesn’t apply.
I have found following this process ensures the complaint will stick and the AAB can/will find they have jurisdiction over the facility. Another recommendation is to include as many non-accessible features/areas as possible when filing the complaint but they must be common areas or space and not employee areas.
Here is the MA Dept of Public Safety web site link; http://www.mass.gov/
Look on the left side & click on the second link down titled Architectural Access Board.
Please feel free to email any questions @ ptbagger@verizon.net
November 2nd, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Hi Scott, Thanks for all this info and the codes.It’s very helpful, not only to us but also our readers. It’s wonderful to have an access specialist on out team! Kenny