Disability panel weighs hotel elevator options

Other Committee · Meeting of May 19, 2026

NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton Disability Commission reviewed accessibility plans for the proposed Sojourn Hotel and pressed the city on stalled ADA fixes. Developer Charles Perry of Sunwood Builders said a required elevator at the historic 3 Elm Street rectory would eliminate up to four of 17 guest rooms, a loss he priced at roughly $1.2 million, calling a full ADA-compliant elevator "completely unviable" for the project. The commission will vote on the chairlift-versus-elevator design in June.

Separately, commissioners Emma Cornwell and Asher Henricks criticized the city's ADA coordinator for being unable to attend meetings after 4 p.m., with Cornwell saying it is "kind of unacceptable." Staff reported accessible parking behind Thornes may not meet slope code and a City Hall door-opener project stalled after a contractor failed to remove asbestos. The commission approved its April 29 minutes 2-0 with two abstentions.

In the full story:

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• Northampton's community access TV: Northampton Disability Commission meeting, May 19, 2026
• The complete report: 865 words

Source: the Other Committee meeting of May 19, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.