Metro West Housing Solutions embarked on a major renovation of Belmar Groves starting in 2023. This $25 million renovation includes new roofs, upgraded appliances, improved landscaping and more.
As the work began, a tenant at Belmar Groves – who is blind – approached the staff with some suggestions on what could make the property and apartments more user-friendly for the visually challenged.
Some amenities added based on these conversations include microwaves with braille on the buttons and a programmable thermostat that works with a blind-accessibility app on a smartphone. MWHS and the tenant are also troubleshooting the best way to help make finding their mailbox and getting around the property easier.
“The Fair Housing Acts ensures that property managers make reasonable accommodations for those that need them, but anytime we can create a more welcoming community for everyone, we want to do that,” said Brendalee Connors, Chief Real Estate Officer at Metro West Housing Solutions. “We are fortunate to have this tenant who provided input on upgrades we could do at Belmar Groves; we will use these conversations to inform future renovations and developments at other MWHS communities.”
