Four apartment complexes agree to handicapped-accessible updates
By Lynn Zerschling Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, July 24, 2008
SIOUX CITY -- Owners of four apartment complexes agreed to renovate their buildings to make them handicapped accessible following an investigation by the city's Human Rights Commission.
The owners of those buildings signed settlement agreements in four disability-based discrimination cases, Pat Johnson, fair housing coordinator, said Wednesday.
"Each of the complaints was pretty similar," she explained. "They didn't have levered handles on their doors, which made it difficult to get in the buildings. Only one of the four had to lower their thermostats and light controls in their ground floor units. Two complexes had accessibility problems. The sidewalks there needed to be repaired because the curb cuts weren't in the right place. The handicapped parking spot was not close to the curb cut."
Johnson said the violations of federal law were found during a test project last May. The commission hired the Fair Housing Center in Omaha to send someone to check out apartment complexes in Sioux City. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has certified that agency to conduct compliance checks.
"The tester that went had a cane and said she needed a unit accessible to someone who had a disability," Johnson explained. "She looked at seven complexes and found four to be in violation."
Johnson said the names or locations of those apartments could not be released. However, she reported they are located in various parts of town. After she notified the owners of the violations, Johnson said all wanted to comply with the law.
One of the goals of such compliance checks is to educate the public that the federal law that went into effect in 1991 requires apartment complexes to meet disability requirements.
"By finding four out of seven not in compliance, we need to get the word out to contractors and managers so they will build them right the first time and not have to spend money and go back in and retrofit them."
The Fair Housing Act of 1968, which was amended in 1988, sets design and construction requirements for multi-family dwellings built for occupancy after March 13, 1991. Omission of any of the following is a basis for a discrimination complaint:
-- Accessible entrances, public and common use area.
-- Usable doors.
-- Accessible routes into and through the dwelling units.
-- Accessible light switches, electrical outlets and other environmental controls.
-- Reinforced bathroom walls.
-- Usable kitchens and bathrooms.
The owners of those buildings signed settlement agreements in four disability-based discrimination cases, Pat Johnson, fair housing coordinator, said Wednesday.
"Each of the complaints was pretty similar," she explained. "They didn't have levered handles on their doors, which made it difficult to get in the buildings. Only one of the four had to lower their thermostats and light controls in their ground floor units. Two complexes had accessibility problems. The sidewalks there needed to be repaired because the curb cuts weren't in the right place. The handicapped parking spot was not close to the curb cut."
Johnson said the violations of federal law were found during a test project last May. The commission hired the Fair Housing Center in Omaha to send someone to check out apartment complexes in Sioux City. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has certified that agency to conduct compliance checks.
"The tester that went had a cane and said she needed a unit accessible to someone who had a disability," Johnson explained. "She looked at seven complexes and found four to be in violation."
Johnson said the names or locations of those apartments could not be released. However, she reported they are located in various parts of town. After she notified the owners of the violations, Johnson said all wanted to comply with the law.
One of the goals of such compliance checks is to educate the public that the federal law that went into effect in 1991 requires apartment complexes to meet disability requirements.
"By finding four out of seven not in compliance, we need to get the word out to contractors and managers so they will build them right the first time and not have to spend money and go back in and retrofit them."
The Fair Housing Act of 1968, which was amended in 1988, sets design and construction requirements for multi-family dwellings built for occupancy after March 13, 1991. Omission of any of the following is a basis for a discrimination complaint:
-- Accessible entrances, public and common use area.
-- Usable doors.
-- Accessible routes into and through the dwelling units.
-- Accessible light switches, electrical outlets and other environmental controls.
-- Reinforced bathroom walls.
-- Usable kitchens and bathrooms.
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
