The United States has initiated a federal Fair Housing Act lawsuit against Lettire Construction Corp. and related entities for not ensuring accessibility in newly constructed apartment buildings for people with physical disabilities. The complaint, announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Edward Y. Kim for the Southern District of New York, targets several residential complexes built by Lettire.
Kim stated, “Today’s filing is the 20th suit that this Office has brought to remedy the failure of real estate developers to comply with the Fair Housing Act. We appreciate Lettire’s and East 124th Street LLC’s cooperation in taking responsibility for their actions so that more properties are rendered accessible to more people. This Office will remain vigilant in ensuring that developers, construction managers, and architects comply with the FHA and remedy inaccessible housing in this District.”
The Fair Housing Act mandates accessible design features in multifamily housing built after January 1991. The lawsuit claims that Lettire's constructions failed to meet these standards, citing issues like high thresholds at entrances and insufficient bathroom space for wheelchair users.
Three properties are highlighted: The Tapestry in Manhattan, Chestnut Commons in Brooklyn, and The Atrium also in Brooklyn. Each site had different degrees of non-compliance or ongoing remediation efforts.
The settlements proposed include agreements from Lettire and other involved entities to retrofit existing structures and ensure future compliance with FHA guidelines. They also involve civil penalties totaling $50,000 across all parties.
Furthermore, East 124th Street LLC agreed to provide $20,000 as compensation for individuals affected by the lack of accessibility at The Tapestry.
Those who believe they have been discriminated against due to these conditions can contact the Civil Rights Complaint account via email or submit a report through provided channels.
Kim expressed gratitude towards HUD for its role in investigating the matter. The case is being managed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Amanda Lee and Danielle J. Marryshow from the Civil Rights Unit of the Civil Division.