The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Manhattan is seeking a one-month delay in a lawsuit in which it claims two Related Companies buildings are inaccessible to residents with disabilities. The office said Tuesday it is engaging in “intensive” settlement talks with the developer.
The federal government’s lawsuit alleges, among other things, that One Carnegie Hill at 215 East 96th Street and Tribeca Green at 325 North End Avenue have kitchens and bathrooms with too little floor space for wheel chairs to maneuver and bathroom features that make grab bar installation difficult. The U.S. Attorney’s Office Told The Wall Street Journal it hopes negotiation would expedite changes to be made at Related’s current sites and projects in the pipeline.
U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin is reviewing the postponement request, the Journal said.
The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development worked with the Department of Justice in 2008 in a probe of the accessibility of properties of 11 developers based in New York City. Of the 11, six developers have since signed consent decrees. Those developers said they would contribute funds for residents who claim they suffered from poor accessibility at their properties. [WSJ] — Mark Maurer