On my recent trip to Denmark family friends, who are in home construction business, surprised me taking me to their old 5'th floor penthouse on their new hydraulic free standing private elevator, bypassing the regular elevators inside the building, now almost 100 years old! All-glass elevator enclosure with nice views. And affordable!
My first thought was: We need this at Casa Ybel!
I have made plans for 1 in center front for H, serving the 2 entrance floors left and right. Perhaps 2 in G and 1 in F that places you ascending between palms and trees in front from the drive way.
The cost is reasonable and spread over 3500 owners very affordable.
I follow the inputs from owners who wish to exchange lower units for upper units, and making points that IJK is somewhat free of steps.
When you reach 82 it is difficult to move suitcases up or down to your unit for your week. If is fine with rollers, but you still need the lift!
Besides the addition to individual convenience it ads value to our investments at Casa Ybel.
Any other owners feeling the same way?
Carl Appelberg

Carl,

This issue has come up before - though I cannot remember the details. Have you given any thought to the climate and the damage the salt air will do to mechanical systems? While the initial cost may be reasonable, the maintenance will be outrageous. Downtime will result increasing frustration.

I sympathize with the lack of access for the elderly beacuse I hope to be vacationing at Casa Ybel when I'm 82, but we can cure the defect. It will just be too expensive.

I feel like Casa Ybel would look like a senior citizen rest home with elevators everywhere. I love Casa Ybel and feel like the stairs are my exercise and when I get in my 80's, I'll have my husband carry me up the stairs.

The resort was never designed to include elevators, and to add them now would completely change the charateristic of the buildings - quite apart from the cost.

It was a good idea to submit for consideration, but I would not be able to support it.

In any case, where people are finding difficulty carrying cases up to the units due to age or infirmity, you can always ask a porter to assist.

The sad part is that you are weighing "ruining the character" of a building versus accessibility, not only for older folks, but for disabled people like myself (time share owner for 20 years).

We have ended up renting out our Casa Ybel unit most years and going to the resorts with elevators due to accessibility issues.

Granted, no elevators reduces small children at the resort as well as us disabled folks.

Admittedly it is a very difficult call. The problem is that the design and structure of these buildings were never meant for lifts (as we call them), and to add them now would be a complete change and massive disruption - quite apart from the expense, which just would not be warranted.

Modern buildings would have those facilities if factored in at the outset - but not necessarily.