How Foglia Residences Is Redefining Accessible Rentals — Lessons for Landlords and Developers

Foglia Residences, a nine-story, 76-unit affordable housing building opened in fall 2024, was designed specifically for people who are blind or visually impaired. Beyond the programmatic novelty of an affordable building targeting this population, Foglia offers a compact, actionable case study for landlords, developers, and property managers: how to combine universal design, clear wayfinding, technology, and operations so residents can live independently. This article breaks down the practical design and operational choices that enable true independence — and gives step-by-step guidance for teams who want to create or retrofit accessible apartments that perform both socially and financially.

Why Foglia matters: accessibility as practical value and social impact

Accessible apartments and inclusive development are often written about as moral obligations or legal checkboxes (ADA compliance). Foglia reframes accessibility as user-centered design that reduces ongoing support costs, improves tenant retention, and expands market demand — especially in the affordable housing segment. For developers, adding accessibility features can increase funding eligibility, qualify projects for incentives, and boost long-term ROI through lower vacancy and better tenant outcomes.

Core design principles demonstrated (and recommended)

Successful accessible housing for blind and low-vision residents generally bundles four design principles. Foglia’s programmatic focus demonstrates how these principles translate to real buildings.

1. Wayfinding as a layered system

Wayfinding for people with visual impairments is most effective when it uses multiple sensory layers: tactile, auditory, and consistent spatial geometry. These layers remove reliance on sight alone.

• Tactile routes: continuous, cane-detectable surfaces and tactile ground indicators near changes (e.g., stairs, platform edges).
• Braille and tactile signage: elevators, entry points, and unit numbers with raised numerals and braille at standardized mounting heights.
• Auditory cues: optional beaconing at key nodes (lobby, elevators, mail area) that integrate with smartphone apps or wearable devices.

2. Universal design inside units and common areas

Universal design means making spaces usable by the broadest set of people without adaptation. For Foglia-type projects, this includes:

• Clear floor plans with unobstructed circulation and predictable furniture zones.
• Contrasting textures and materials to delineate thresholds (e.g., kitchen vs. living area).
• Accessible kitchens and bathrooms with lever handles, pull-out shelves, and roll-in shower options where feasible.

3. Integrated assistive technology

Technology should complement, not replace, good design. Low-friction tech improves independence:

• Voice-activated building controls (lights, thermostats) and smart locks with accessible authentication methods.
• Indoor navigation apps that sync with building wayfinding beacons and provide turn-by-turn audio guidance.
• Accessible emergency notification systems — visual and vibrating alerts tied to smoke/CO detectors and building alarms.

4. Operations and tenant services that reflect resident needs

Design without operations fails. Foglia’s model points to the importance of staff training, onboarding for new residents, and maintenance protocols that preserve accessible features.

• Staff trained in orientation and mobility basics and in how to describe unit layouts verbally.
• Move-in orientation packages that include tactile maps, braille directories, and digital audio tours.
• Maintenance checklists that prioritize accessible-path clearances and functioning assistive tech.

Practical retrofit guide for landlords: 10 prioritized actions

Retrofitting an existing rental portfolio to improve accessibility can be phased to control cost while delivering meaningful independence gains. Below is a prioritized list landlords and property managers can implement within a single budget cycle.

1. Audit and plan: perform a simple accessibility audit focused on entryways, corridors, signage, lighting, and at least one sample unit per floor.
2. Improve tactile and braille signage: install braille and raised-character signs at elevator banks, mailrooms, and unit doors. Ensure consistent mounting heights.
3. Clear continuous paths: remove permanent and temporary obstacles from corridors and ensure 36-inch minimum clearances in high-traffic areas.
4. Upgrade lighting and contrast: add consistent, glare-free lighting and high-contrast edging on stairs and level changes to help low-vision residents.
5. Install lever handles and accessible hardware: replace round knobs with levers and add threshold ramps where small level changes exist.
6. Add simple auditory wayfinding: install optional audio beacons in the lobby and at elevator landings that tie into free or inexpensive smartphone apps.
7. Provide tactile wayfinding maps: tactile floor plans in the lobby and apartment entryways help orientation for new residents.
8. Equip a model accessible unit: create one show unit that demonstrates universal design features and assistive tech available for residents.
9. Staff training: train frontline staff in basic orientation and mobility assistance and in how to maintain accessibility features.
10. Policy updates: add clear procedures for accommodating assistive devices, service animals, and reasonable modification requests. (See our piece on navigating rental agreement law for contract best practices.)

Wayfinding and braille signage: practical specs that fit most budgets

Signage and tactile systems are among the highest-impact, lowest-cost interventions. Here are actionable specifications:

• Sign height: mount tactile signs so the center of the tactile characters is 48 to 60 inches above finished floor.
• Contrast: use matte finishes with a minimum 70% contrast between characters and background.
• Braille grade: use Grade 2 braille for brevity and legality where required; ensure spacing is per ADA guidance.
• Material: use durable, vandal-resistant materials like anodized aluminum or high-density plastic with raised characters.

Measuring ROI: why accessibility pays

Developers often ask whether inclusive development impacts bottom lines. The answer is yes — in several measurable ways:

• Lower turnover: tenants who can live independently are likelier to renew leases, reducing vacancy and turnover costs.
• Funding and incentives: projects with targeted accessibility can access affordable housing funding pools, tax credits, and local incentives.
• Reputation and demand: inclusive developments attract mission-aligned partners and philanthropic investments, and generate positive press that reduces marketing spend.
• Reduced operational support costs: good design reduces the frequency of emergency calls and ad-hoc assistance for basic daily tasks.

For landlords exploring additional revenue and reward programs, there are creative finance angles too — from targeted tax benefits to card-based rewards programs for building upgrades. (See our guide on maximizing housing rewards for ideas about financing tenant-focused amenities.)

Compliance vs. excellence: meeting ADA while designing beyond it

ADA compliance is the legal baseline; truly independent living requires going beyond minimums. ADA provides necessary standards for entrances, accessible routes, and signage, but real-world independence depends on consistency and redundancy in design — tactile + auditory + digital. A compliance-first approach should be supplemented with user testing and partnerships with organizations serving people with visual impairments.

Operational checklist: day-to-day policies and training

Even the best hardware can fail without operational support. Use this checklist to embed accessibility in property management operations.

• Onboarding: provide audio- and tactile-based orientation sessions for new residents.
• Maintenance: weekly checks for hallway obstructions, monthly checks for functioning auditory beacons and accessible hardware.
• Tenant communication: offer rent notices and building updates in accessible formats (large print, braille, audio files).
• Emergency planning: include evacuation procedures for people with visual impairments and ensure staff know how to assist while preserving autonomy.
• Feedback loop: establish anonymous, accessible channels for residents to report wayfinding or accessibility problems.

Final lessons for developers and landlords

Foglia Residences shows that accessible apartments — when conceived holistically — create independent, dignified living at scale. Key lessons:

• Treat accessibility as an integrated system (design + tech + operations), not a checklist.
• Start small and iterate: tactile signage, one model unit, and staff training can unlock quick wins.
• Measure outcomes: track lease renewals, maintenance calls, and resident satisfaction to quantify ROI.
• Engage users early: co-design with blind and low-vision residents to avoid costly rework.

As landlords and developers pivot toward inclusive development, Foglia’s model is a practical roadmap: design clearly, operate thoughtfully, and finance strategically. For teams looking for inspiration on amenity design that sells — from inclusive building features to experiential travel-minded perks — review our guide on apartment features that sell. With the right combination of universal design and operational commitment, accessible housing is both a community good and a smart business strategy.