The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is bringing charges against multiple entities for allegedly failing to design and construct a luxury condominium complex in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in accordance with the accessibility requirements of the Fair Housing Act.
HUD announced the architectural firm that designed the drawings used for the construction of the Quantum Metrocenter Condominiums (QMC), the general contractor, and both the original and subsequent owners of the property failed to approve an accommodation request made by two residents to address inaccessible design and construction features. The parties cited by HUD are accused of failing to include accessible building entrances on accessible routes, accessible and usable public and common use areas, usable doors in units, accessible routes in units, accessible thermostats, reinforced walls for grab bars in bathrooms, and usable kitchens and bathrooms for persons with disabilities, particularly those in wheelchairs, in the 80-residential unit two-tower buildings.
Furthermore, HUD alleges the entities failed to approve a reasonable accommodation request for an accessible parking space, which would have allowed persons with disabilities to have better use of their units and the common area features of QMC, even while continuing to have to endure other inaccessible design and construction features.
“It is unacceptable to deny residents equal use and enjoyment of their homes because of their disability,” said Demetria L. McCain, HUD Principal Assistant Deputy Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. “HUD is steadfast in ensuring that people with disabilities have access to their homes, in accordance with the Fair Housing Act.”
HUD added that a U.S. Administrative Law Judge will hear HUD’s charge unless any party elects to have the case heard in federal district court.
The parties cited by HUD did not publicly comment on the department’s allegations.
Photo courtesy Quantum Metrocenter
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I am going to assume that Puerto Rico is enjoying HUD dollars and benefits. If not, I would just ignore this over-reach. Now Puerto Rico is finding out that the are strings attached to anything the government hands out to you. It’s an evil means to gain control.