
In a recent push for fair housing rights, the United States government slapped Lettire Construction Corp. and several related entities with a lawsuit alleging violations of the Fair Housing Act, specifically regarding accessibility for persons with disabilities. A statement released by Edward Y. Kim, the Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, detailed the lawsuit's implications and highlighted the government's settlement proposals, subject to court review, with Lettire and the associated companies.
The Southern District of New York's press release reveals that this is the 20th suit filed by the Office to tackle the failure of developers to comply with federal accessibility mandates. Acting U.S. Attorney Kim emphasized the importance of developer's adherence to these requirements, stating, "This Office will remain vigilant in ensuring that developers, construction managers, and architects comply with the FHA and remedy inaccessible housing in this District." Unfortunately, he didn't specify when all improperly built properties would be retrofitted to meet accessibility standards.
Among the properties highlighted in the complaint were The Tapestry in Manhattan, Chestnut Commons in Brooklyn, and The Atrium, also in Brooklyn. While reported efforts were underway to rectify issues at The Atrium, the complaint accused Lettire of failing to provide clear floor space in bathrooms and excessively high thresholds in building entrances, violating the FHA which mandates basic features for accessibility in multifamily housing complexes constructed post-January 1991.
The government's legal maneuver seeks to coerce Lettire into not only amending the current conditions but also compensating those impacted by this oversight. Under the proposed settlements, Lettire has agreed to a series of retrofits, policy changes, and a civil penalty fee. Meanwhile, East 124th Street LLC is on the hook for making necessary improvements at The Tapestry and compensating aggrieved persons to the tune of $20,000, according to Kim's statement as obtained by the Justice Department's press release.
For those who believe they were discriminated against at the properties in question, the U.S. Attorney’s Office urges them to contact the Civil Rights Complaint account at [email protected], use the provided Civil Rights Complaint Form on their website, or send in written reports. This step is hoped to not only address individual grievances but also catalyze an industry-wide shift towards full compliance with accessibility laws.