Oregon Developer to Pay $80K, Correct Accessibility Deficiencies

The developer of a 275-unit rental community in Salem, Ore., recently agreed to pay $80,000 and remove accessibility barriers to resolve a lawsuit claiming disability discrimination in violation of the Fair Housing Act.

Under the terms of the parties’ agreement, the developer and others associated with the project will take extensive actions to make the complex accessible to persons with disabilities. Corrective actions include: removing steps from sidewalks, widening interior doorways, reducing threshold heights, replacing excessively sloped portions of sidewalks, and installing properly sloped curb ramps to allow persons with disabilities to access the sidewalks from the parking areas.

In addition, the developer will pay $48,000 to a fair housing organization whose investigation revealed the alleged violations, and $32,000 to establish a settlement fund for the purpose of compensating disabled individuals affected by the accessibility violations.

This settlement does not resolve the entire lawsuit. The case continues against the company that provided design and engineering services for the community.

“Having accessible features in an apartment complex is not just a legal requirement. These features are essential for people with disabilities to live their lives fully and independently,” added John Trasviña, HUD Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD and the Justice Department are committed to ensuring that housing developers meet the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act.”

Source: U.S. Department of Justice

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