82-year-old wants a solution to her condo-door problem

Shirley Deutsch is just trying to get a handle on her situation.

Deutsch and her husband, Gene, have spent winters at The Promenade for nearly 10 years. The 112-unit condominium has been undergoing a $2.6 million remodeling project since July. Part of the project included new front doors for the units.

The couple paid their share for the remodeling assessment, which equated to more than $20,000. It was when the doors arrived in February that 82-year-old Deutsch realized she had a problem.

Deutsch is 4-foot-10 and suffers from osteoporosis. She said the handle on her old door was at about 39 inches in height. Her new door handle is nearly 45 inches high, nearly reaching to the top of Deutsch’s shoulder.

She says it’s hard for her to easily open the door and she’s afraid of getting hurt.

“It’s not good,” she said. “That’s what I know.”

According to the International Building Code, entry-door knobs should be between 34 inches and 48 inches above a finished floor as a general rule.

Searching for a solution, Deutsch, whose husband stands 5-11, has repeatedly reached out to the Promenade Condominium Owners Association, as well as the condominium’s management. Management at The Promenade did not respond to requests for comment for this story.

In email correspondence, shared with The Longboat Observer by Deutsch, a member of the condo association told Deutsch that any solution would have to be approved by the board of directors at its next meeting, April 25.

But, mutually agreed upon solutions might not be so simple.

In that email correspondence, the member of the PCOA floated the possibility of replacing the door with one with a lower handle. The Deutsches would need to pay for the door and its installation, which totals more than $2,000.

Because she and her husband have already paid more than $20,000, Deutsch said she does not find this option acceptable.

In another email, the PCOA member also suggested she have a medical doctor confirm the door handle will cause problems.

She told the member that she was “profoundly insulted” by that response.

No matter what happens, Deutsch is not giving up her cause.

“It’s something I’m just not willing to accept,” Deutsch said.