A federal judge signed off on a settlement on April 20, 2026 that partially resolves a federal Fair Housing Act lawsuit accusing several newly built New York apartment complexes of cutting corners on disability access. The deal, announced by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, orders accessibility retrofits at Chestnut Commons in Brooklyn and finalizes earlier agreements for The Tapestry in Manhattan and the Atrium at Sumner in Brooklyn. It also creates a compensation fund for tenants who were harmed and imposes $70,000 in civil penalties.
“Fair Access means just that,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. “New Yorkers support enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, and our Office will continue to ensure access for persons with disabilities.” April 20, 2026
What the Settlement Requires
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Lettire Construction and other defendants agreed to retrofit both common areas and individual apartments at Chestnut Commons so they comply with federal accessibility standards. The settlement also sets aside up to $100,000 to compensate people harmed by inaccessible conditions at The Tapestry and Chestnut Commons.
Under the deal, Chestnut Commons Housing Development Corp. and MHANY Management must bring in a Fair Housing Act compliance consultant, adopt written accessibility policies, and train staff so future projects are built correctly the first time. The parties will also pay civil penalties that together total $70,000.
Clayton underscored the point that “Fair Access means just that” and stressed that his office will keep pressing developers to remove barriers that can “make daily life difficult or even impossible” for people with disabilities, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The government’s complaint pointed to problems such as excessively high thresholds at building entrances and bathrooms without enough clear floor space or grab bars, issues the settlement is supposed to fix.
The Law Behind the Case
The Fair Housing Act’s design and construction rules require that “covered multifamily dwellings” first occupied after March 13, 1991 include features such as accessible routes through buildings, usable bathrooms with sufficient clear floor space, and thresholds that do not trip up wheelchair users. Federal guidance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice lays out the technical details that courts and enforcement agencies rely on to decide whether a building is compliant, according to HUD.
Timeline and Next Steps
The United States filed the case on January 16, 2025, and Justia court records show that consent decrees resolving other defendants were approved on April 29, 2025. The order entered on April 20, 2026 finalizes the Chestnut Commons portion of the case.
People who believe they were harmed by inaccessible conditions at the properties covered by the settlement may be eligible to submit a claim. Potential claimants are directed to consult the U.S. Attorney’s Civil Rights Unit for information on how to file.
Advocates have pushed for tougher enforcement of accessibility rules in housing for years, and Hoodline first reported the government’s initial lawsuit in January 2025 in a story that detailed the government’s initial lawsuit. This latest settlement closes one piece of a longer legal effort to ensure that new apartment buildings in New York are actually usable for residents with disabilities.
