United Spinal Association has joined two national disabilities rights organizations, Equal Rights Center (ERC) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), in a lawsuit against Archstone-Smith Trust—one of the nation’s largest residential developers—and other defendants, including architects involved with designing Archstone buildings. The complaint alleges that Archstone designed and constructed thousands of housing units across the country without including accessible design features required by the Fair Housing Act (FHA).
The FHA was amended in 1988 to include nondiscrimination against people with disabilities by housing providers and requiring newly constructed developments with four or more units to provide basic features of accessibility, including an accessible path of travel to all ground floor units in buildings without elevators and to all units in buildings with elevators. The law also requires that units have an accessible path of travel throughout, door widths of at least 32 inches, maneuverability for individuals using wheelchairs in kitchens and bathrooms, reinforcements in bathroom walls for installation of grab bars, and light switches and environmental controls at certain heights.
Archstone has built thousands of units in more than 100 apartment complexes in 18 states and the District of Columbia since the 1988 amendments to the FHA went into effect. Many of these units have various violations including steps at entrances, narrow doorways, and other barriers that effectively exclude persons with disabilities from living in the units or visiting friends and relatives that live in the developments. Such disregard for the law has an adverse impact on people with disabilities by limiting their housing options in an already limited market, as well as limiting socialization and interaction with friends, neighbors, and relatives.
If you have seen new apartment buildings in your area that you believe are inaccessible, please feel free to call us for further information at 718-803-3782, ext. 310 or via e-mail at kking@unitedspinal.org.
Kleo King is general counsel at United Spinal.
