$45K grant for Lake City Center
Funds will pay for restroom renovation
COEUR d’ALENE — One of the biggest problems at the Lake City Center is soon to be no more.
Director Bob Small recently received word the center landed a $45,000 Community Development Block Grant to pay for renovating the restrooms and make them Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.
“The restrooms were not accessible to anybody that is handicapped or disabled,” Small said Monday. “Right now, they can’t use the restrooms unless we go there and prop the door open. It was not a good scenario.”
Which was a problem when 40 or 50 people with support groups for Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s or multiple sclerosis were meeting at the center. They often had difficulty opening the doors and turning the faucets.
“We’ve had trouble with people, disabled, trying to use the faucets, especially here. They’re crazy,” said Small, who submitted the grant application in November.
The renovation will create “touchless” restrooms for paper towel and soap dispensers, and faucets. It will also pay for six taller, auto-flush toilets.
The restroom doors will have push-button access.
The general contractor is Verdis and the project is expected to be completed in about six weeks.
“Totally accessible to everybody,” Small said. “That’s the key.”
“This project will provide a long-term solution to the problems confronting visitors to Lake City Center,” Small said, “and will provide touchless restroom facilities which will be extremely beneficial during the COVID-19 situation.”
The center is providing masks and hand sanitizer.
Life is gradually returning to normal at the Lake City Center. Billiard and card players have returned, as have artists.
“Everybody but the line dancers and they start next week,” Small said.
Drive-thru lunches will continue to be offered, while dining inside by reservation only will return as an option, too, starting Monday.
On another note, Small pointed out the center’s 3,200-square-foot dining room floor was replaced and is now even throughout.
Previously, the floor consisted of two separate heights, with two different types of flooring, presenting a hazard for seniors, he said.
The improvement, Small said, is amazing.
“You’ll have to see it, to believe it,” he said.
