United States v. Equity Residential (S.D.N.Y.)

On January 13, 2017, the United States Attorney’s Office filed a complaint in United States v. Equity Residential and ERP Operating L.P. (S.D.N.Y.), against the designers and developers of 170 Amsterdam Avenue, a large rental complex in Manhattan that was completed in 2015. The complaint alleges that the defendants violated the Fair Housing Act by failing to design and construct this property so as to be accessible to persons with disabilities. The complaint also alleges that defendants are actively involved in designing and constructing several other rental buildings, including in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Seattle. The United States seeks a court order requiring defendants to make appropriate retrofits at 170 Amsterdam Avenue and to take steps necessary to ensure that the rental buildings defendants are currently developing will be designed and constructed in compliance with the FHA’s accessibility requirements.

press release (1/13/17)