U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara has sued developer Related Companies for creating luxury housing that isn't accessible to people with disabilities. According to a DOJ release, more than 750 units in One Carnegie Hill and Tribeca Green are in violation of the Fair Housing Act [PDF] because of their poorly designed common areas, narrow kitchens, and inaccessible electrical outlets, mailboxes, and trash rooms.
“We will not allow developers and architects who deprive people with disabilities of accessible housing to evade the consequences of their failure to comply with clear, long-standing federal civil rights laws," Bharara says in the statement. The U.S. Attorney's office has aggressively pursued violations of the Fair Housing Act with developers in New York City for years.
Related is one of the city's largest development firms, and was a favorite of the Bloomberg administration: in December the outgoing administration gave the company $120 million in tax breaks for its work on the Hudson Yards and Willets Point projects.
The developer released this statement on the lawsuit:
We are disappointed by the fact that we have been unable to reach agreement with the U.S. Attorneys’ office respecting the subject matter of the complaint, especially given our long-time commitment to accommodating disabilities. We have labored in good faith to reach a resolution, going substantially beyond what we felt was legally required. Unfortunately, for the time being, we have reached an impasse with the Government which we believe is asking for things not required by law. We are hopeful that as the case progresses, Related and the Government will be able to reach a resolution of all outstanding issues.
