Saturday, September 10, 2016

Another Developer/Landlord, Along With Its Architect & Engineer, Get Roped Into Fair Housing Lawsuit Alleging Recently-Built Residential Complex Has Wheelchair-Inaccessible Kitchens & Bathrooms, Non-Compliant Steps, Doors, Etc.

In Cleveland, Ohio, WOIO-TV Channel 19 reports:
  • A University Circle apartment complex is the subject of a federal lawsuit that alleges the property owners discriminate against people with disabilities.

    The suit involves the apartment complex, 118 Flats Circle, located at the intersection of E. 118th and Euclid Avenue. It was filed [] by the Housing Research & Advocacy Center,(1) and specifically names the WXZ Residential Group/Circle Lofts 118, LLC, WXZ Development, Inc., RDL Architects, Inc., and Ebersole Structural Engineers Ltd.

    It alleges that the named parties have "engaged in a continuous pattern and practice of discrimination against people with disabilities."

    It goes on to outline things like steps, doors, and wheelchair inaccessible kitchens and bathrooms in the apartment units and says that those things, "effectively communicate that people with disabilities are not welcome at 118 Flats."

    Cleveland 19 reached out to WXZ Residential Group, the owner of Circle Lofts 118 but was told Monday afternoon no one was available to comment.

    The Housing Research & Advocacy Center identifies itself as a “private, non-profit organization…whose mission is to promote fair housing and diverse communities, and work to eliminate housing discrimination in Northeast Ohio.”
Source: CLE apartment complex accused of discriminating against disabled.
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(1) Housing Research & Advocacy Center (The Housing Center) is a not-for-profit fair housing agency that promotes equal housing opportunities in Northeast Ohio by, among other things, filing lawsuits to enforce the fair housing law.