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Battery Park City Builder Hit With Up to $500K in Disability Suit Fines

By Noah Hurowitz | February 15, 2017 3:14pm
 A federal civil-rights lawsuit accused The Albanese Organization of discriminating against people with disabilities.
A federal civil-rights lawsuit accused The Albanese Organization of discriminating against people with disabilities.
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Albanese Organization

BATTERY PARK CITY — A New Jersey developer will increase disability access at one of its Battery Park City buildings and has agreed to do inspections at a nearby building and one in the Flatiron District after settling a federal civil-rights lawsuit, according to federal prosecutors.

The Albanese Organization, a company based in Garden City, New Jersey, agreed to make the Verdesian, located at 211 North End Ave. near Murray Street, more accessible to people with disabilities and look into whether rights are also being violated at the Solaire, located at 20 River Terrace in Battery Park City and at the Vanguard Chelsea, located at 77 W. 24th St. in Flatiron.

The firm will also pay a civil fine of $45,000 and up to $500,000 in compensation to individuals injured or discriminated against due to the lack of accessibility at the building and a pattern of “willful” discrimination against potential tenants with disabilities, according to a release from U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara.

“Today’s settlement not only provides compensation for those who have been aggrieved by existing inaccessible conditions, but also provides that Albanese and its affiliates will implement procedures to guarantee accessibility at The Verdesian, The Solaire, The Vanguard Chelsea, and future development projects,” Bharara said in a statement.

A complaint against the company, filed in January, identified 19 features of the building that made it inaccessible to people with disabilities, including kitchens too narrow for people in wheelchairs, a lack of braille on signs, and numerous light switches, intercoms, thermostats, and electrical outlets mounted too high for access by people in wheelchairs.

The complaint also accused the Albanese Organization of discriminating against people with disabilities in the sale and rental of units, which the Bharara’s office labeled a pattern of actions that were “willful, intentional, and taken in the disregard for the rights of others.”

Compensation may be available to people who fall into the following categories:

► Were discouraged from living at The Verdesian, Vanguard Chelsea, or The Solaire because of the lack of accessible features.

► Were been hurt in any way by the lack of accessible features at the three buildings.

► Paid to have accessibility features added to an apartment at three buildings.

► Were otherwise were discriminated against at the firm’s buildings as a result of their inaccessible design and construction.

People who might be able to claim compensation can file a civil claim by contacting the Southern District’s civil rights complaint line at (212) 637-0840 or on the U.S. Attorney’s office website.