The feds on Monday slapped one of the city’s biggest developers with a lawsuit alleging it has a shoddy track record of developing luxury rental complexes that aren’t accessible to people with disabilities.
The federal civil rights suit against Related Companies is part of what’s been a six-year effort by Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bhahara to get Big Apple developers to comply with federal housing laws that prohibit tenants who use wheelchairs from being discriminated against.
It was filed after both sides couldn’t reach an agreement following years of negotiations, and it names two Related rental projects built in Manhattan since 2005 — 475-unit One Carnegie Hill and 278-unit Tribeca Green — as being in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act. The suit seeks unspecified money damages and a court order ensuring the company complies with both laws in its current and future projects, including the Hudson Yards luxury rental complex.
Also named as defendants in the suit are Ismael Levya Architects, which designed One Carnegie Hill, and Robert A.M. Stern Architects, which designed Tribeca Green. Both did not return messages seeking comment.
The suit claims One Carnegie Hill on the Upper East Side and Tribeca Green are filled with scores of inaccessible conditions, including steps with excessively high thresholds and kitchens lacking enough width for maneuvering by people in wheelchairs.
“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, said Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara.
Related spokeswoman Joanna Rose said the company is “disappointed” that it was unable to reach an agreement with the feds “especially given our long-time commitment to accommodating disabilities.”
“We are hopeful that as the case progresses, Related and the government will be able to reach a resolution of all outstanding issues,” she said.
The government since 2008 has filed similar suits against developers AvalonBay Communities and Friedland Properties.