WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The developers and architects of two Chicago-area housing developments have resolved allegations that they violated the Fair Housing Act by not providing accessible housing to persons with disabilities, while the architects and developers of a third Chicago area development were sued over similar allegations, the Justice Department announced today.

The three cases, filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, stem from allegations that the developers and architects of Creekside of Spring Creek in Orland Park, Park Place Condominium in Lockport, and Martha's Ridge in Chicago Ridge, failed to include required features that would have made units more accessible. These features include: accessible common areas; accessible routes into and through the units; doors that are wide enough for wheelchairs; and bathrooms that can accommodate grab bars. The suits against Creekside of Spring Creek and Park Place Condominium were resolved through the settlement agreements filed today. Attempts to resolve the suit against the owners and managers of Martha's Ridge were unsuccessful, thus the Justice Department is filing suit.

"The law's requirements are modest, but for disabled persons seeking housing, they can make a world of difference," said Bill Lann Lee, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "This is our 16th case in the Chicago area -- in each case the law is clear, and so is the violation. It's much less costly to build units in compliance with the law from the start than it is to retrofit the units after the fact."

Under the Fair Housing Act, all units in multi-family buildings with elevators and ground floor units in buildings without elevators are covered by the accessibility requirements of the Act if they were built after March, 1991. The Act requires covered units to include: doors wide enough for wheelchairs; accessible routes into and through the units; reachable light switches, electrical outlets and thermostats; reinforced bathroom walls so grab bars can be installed; and, sufficient space in kitchens and bathrooms for people in wheelchairs to maneuver.

The developers and architects named in the complaints are Orchard Hill Building Co., Inc., Orchard Hill Construction L.L.C., Linden Group Inc., and William K. Olson Associates, all responsible for Creekside of Spring Creek; One Park Place Corporation and Linden Group Inc., responsible for Park Place; and J&G Construction Company and Linden Group, Inc., responsible for Martha's Ridge.

Under the two settlement agreements, the defendants will retrofit public use and common areas and modify future housing development plans to comply with the Fair Housing Act and build additional units in compliance with the Act to make up for the non-compliant units already built.

Orchard Hill, Linden, and Olson will establish a $70,000 fund to compensate persons who were dissuaded by the lack of accessibility features from purchasing at Creekside. They also will finance modifications requested by owners of the already-built, non-compliant units, and build 40 more units not covered by the Fair Housing Act that will contain accessibility features.

One Park Place Corp. and Linden will pay up to $28,000 to compensate dissuaded purchasers and finance requested modifications, and will build eight more units not covered by the Fair Housing Act that will contain accessibility features.

All the cases filed today are a result of a Justice Department civil rights investigation of Chicago-area builders. During the investigation, disabled and non-disabled people posing as potential buyers or renters were sent to inspect properties to see if they met the federal accessibility requirements. The tests were performed in partnership with the John Marshall Law School Fair Housing Clinic and Access Living, a Chicago-based disability rights organization.

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