In 1999 Concrete Change received an order for a "Building Better Neighborhoods" video from a Bolingbrook citizen with a disability, Edward Bannister.    (That video is now available on DVD.)     Mr. Bannister  was determined to create a Visitability ordinance in Bolingbrook, a fast-growing city of 70,000 about 25 miles from Chicago.  He approached city officials, showed them the video, imparted needed information and used skillful persuasion over the next months.   The Mayor of Bolingbrook, Roger Claar, became a strong supporter, providing political leadership and vision at a level rarely seen when a concept is so new.   Staff member Dan Buonamici, the Building Commissioner in the Community Development Department headed by Dennis Kowalcyz, drafted a solid ordinance covering every new home, publicly or privately funded, which the Village Board passed unanimously.

For several years the Mayor did not sign the ordinance into law, preferring  that builders exercise their option to comply voluntarily.   He took a sustained interest in the success of the program.   Many hundreds of Visitable homes went up.    One of the biggest home building companies in the US, Pulte Homes, is among the builders.    Then in June 2003, having noted the practicality and social benefits of the program, and wanting to ensure that the policy continues under future city leaders, Mayor Claar signed the proposed ordinance into law.

Concrete Change members had the pleasure of visiting Bolingbrook in June 2004, meeting with Mr.  Bannister and Mayor Claar, talking shop with members of the city building department, and touring three Visitable neighborhoods.   More than 3,000 Visitable homes were up at that time, more than any other location in the US.    As a group,  the houses demonstrate that the zero-step entrances can be attractively integrated into design, are practical even in snow country, and are cost-effective even with basements.  Commissioner Buonamici reported at the time of our visit that only a few exemptions from the 3,000+ zero-step entrances had been needed.   Furthermore, no moisture problems had occurred at the entrances, even though hundreds of the homes had weathered two or three snowy winters.    The Bolingbrook citizens widely support  the Visitable homes.   As of 2007, the number of Visitable homes exceeds 4,000.

Return to Housing Laws

Home Page

Site Map

An international effort to make all homes visitable!
info@concretechange.org 600 Dancing Fox Road Decatur GA 30032 USA



Designed by About Your Web Page E-mail shelaw@mindspring.com.