Justice Department sues Newtown retirement community
The lawsuit alleges the firm and owners violated the Fair Housing and Americans with Disabilities acts through the design of the properties.
NEWTOWN — A local retirement community is among the targets of a lawsuit filed by the federal Justice Department Friday, alleging it failed to meet federal acessibility laws.
Church Hill Village, on The Boulevard in Newtown, is one of 15 properties named in the suit.
The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, names J. Randolph Parry Architects, P.C. and eight owners of the properties as defendants.
The lawsuit alleges the firm and owners violated the Fair Housing and Americans with Disabilities acts through the design of the properties.
The complaint alleges that “amenities” at Church Hill Village, including mailboxes, are “too high for people using wheelchairs to reach.”
The complaint also alleges the buildings have “barriers at accessible routes,” including wall mountings extending into the room that “could injure people with vision impairments,” and “insufficient” space around kitchen sinks for people in wheelchairs to use them.
In a statement, Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Civil Rights Division noted the laws have existed for more than a quarter-century, and said there is “no excuse” for properties not to be in compliance.
“This flagrant disregard of federal law must stop, and stop now. We will hold accountable those who ignore their legal obligations to design and construct multifamily housing to be accessible to people with disabilities,” the statement attributed to Dreiband said.
A message left with Randolph Parry Architects seeking comment was not returned.
A message left with Senior Lifestyle, the Chicagobased owners of Church Hill Village, also was not returned.
The suit asks for an order requiring the properties to be brought into compliance with both laws. It also requests the defendants pay damages to people harmed by the alleged violations, along with civil penalties paid to the government.
Anyone with information about the inaccessible conditions at these properties should call the Department of Justice at 1-833-591-0291.