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Access Living and the United States Reach Landmark Settlement Increasing Access at Park Evanston High-Rise
Over $1 million allocated to improve accessibility
CHICAGO, IL, September 19, 2002 - To improve accessibility for people with disabilities at the Park Evanston Apartment Building, Access Living of Metropolitan Chicago, along with the United States, today entered into settlement agreements with The John Buck Company and the architectural firms of Harry Weese Associates and Gensler Architecture, Design and Planning. The agreement resolves a dispute in which Access
Living and the United States alleged the Park Evanston, a 24-story, 283-unit apartment building, built in 1997 and billed as the "focal point for the ongoing rebirth" of downtown Evanston, was designed and constructed in violation of the federal Fair Housing Amendments Act (FHAA) of 1988. The FHAA requires that each apartment in a multistory apartment building with elevators be accessible to and usable by people with disabilities. Eighty percent
of the Park Evanston's apartments and some common areas did not so comply, leaving people in wheelchairs unable to nter bedrooms, use the kitchens or access the bathrooms.
"This settlement is an important victory for the fair housing rights of people with disabilities," said Marca Bristo, President and CEO of Access Living. "Complying with the FHAA is straightforward and results in little to no additional costs. The law requires developers and
architects to incorporate accessibility requirements into
new construction with the goal of creating a barrier-free society and equality in housing for people with
disabilities. If we allow violations to go unchecked, the
Act will be a dead letter for people with disabilities."
Terms of a consent decree reached with the John Buck Company obligate the developer to correct accessibility violations in each of the Park Evanston's apartments as
well as common areas, at a cost of over $1 million. A separate settlement agreement with the architects obligates them to pay over $900,000 of the reconstruction costs. The decree also establishes a fund for people with disabilities
who were unable to live at the Park Evanston due to accessibility violations. U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin Ashman signed and entered both agreements this morning.
"This settlement shows the commitment of the developer and architects to fair housing for people with disabilities," added Bristo. "Expanding the stock of
accessible housing will assure that as people age into their disability, they will be able to stay in their own homes rather than be forced into nursing homes because of
architectural barriers. We hope this case triggers a new commitment on the part of other developers and architects to comply with fair housing laws so that in the future they will not be forced to make expensive retrofits."
Governed and staffed by a majority of people with disabilities, Access Living is Chicago's only center for
independent living and works toward the full equality, inclusion and empowerment of all people with disabilities. Access Living's legal team on this case consisted of its in-house attorneys and Steven Saltzman, a prominent Chicago
civil rights lawyer.
For more information, contact Gary Arnold, Access Living, at 312-253-7000 ext 199 or 312-253-7002 (tty).
Contact: Gary Arnold, Access Living 312-253-7000 ext 199 voice 312-253-7002 tty
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