Order | Filed: April 20, 2026
| Entered: April 20, 2026
United States of America v. Lettire Construction Corp. et al
Civil Rights: Accommodations | New York Southern
Consent Order
CONSENT DECREE AS TO LETTIRE CONSTRUCTION CORP., CHESTNUT COMMONS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND CORP., and MHANY MANAGEMENT, INC. : It is hereby AGREED, by and between the parties: Lettire and CCD, and each of their officers, employees, agents, successors, and assigns, and all other persons in active concert or participation with them, agree that they will not discriminate on the basis of disability as prohibited by the FHA, 42 U.S.C. § 3604. Without admitting liability for the design and/or construction of Chestnut Commons, Lettire and CCD agree to address the conditions alleged to be FHA violations at Chestnut Commons as set forth in Appendices A-1 and A-2. As soon as reasonably possible, but no later than six (6) months after the entry of this Consent Decree by the Court, Lettire and CCD shall use commercially reasonable efforts to finish all the retrofits listed in Appendix A-1. Lettire and CCD shall make reasonable efforts to minimize inconvenience to residents of Chestnut Commons in making such retrofits and as further set forth in this Order. Neither present nor future residents of Chestnut Commons may be charged any additional rent, deposit, fee, or other consideration for the units in which retrofits that are or may be implemented because of completed, contemplated, or possible retrofits required under this Consent Decree. Lettire and CCD shall take no adverse action against any present or future resident of Chestnut Commons because such person requests to have his or her apartment, or prospective apartment, modified in accordance with this Consent Decree. Nothing in this paragraph, however, shall restrict or impede Defendants' rights with respect to any of Chestnut Commons that is the subject of this Consent Decree to continue, in a non- discriminatory manner, to lawfully establish and raise rents consistent with their business goals and obligations and with market conditions, including increasing rents after the expiration of a current lease, whether or not such increase is on account of upgrades to such unit ( other than retrofits required under this Consent Decree) done at or about the same time as retrofits required under this Consent Decree. Performance of the retrofits required by the terms of this Consent Decree does not constitute a diminution in services provided at Chestnut Commons. Lettire and CCD shall enter into a contract with a neutral inspector approved by the United States ("Inspector") to conduct on-site inspections of all retrofits performed under this Consent Decree to determine whether modifications have been made in compliance with the specifications in the Appendices A-l, A-2. The Inspector shall have expertise in the design and construction requirements of the FHA and as further set forth in this Order. Nothing in this Consent Decree shall relieve Lettire and CCD of their obligations to schedule inspections and/or con-ect deficiencies as set forth in this Section (including, but not limited to, inspection of the retrofits that Lettire and/or CCD are required to make as set forth in Appendix A-I and A-2 hereto, prior to the expiration of this Consent Decree) even if such obligations extend beyond the term of this Consent Decree; provided, however, that, if an in-unit retrofit is on request of a resident of the unit and the resident refuses to allow the retrofit or refuses to vacate the unit so that the retrofit may not be made, Lettire and/or CCD shall be relieved of its obligation to perform such retrofit. CCD shall design and construct all new Covered Multifamily Dwellings in full compliance with the FHA by reference to one of the following standards (each a "Standard"), where such a single Standard has been used in its entirety: (i) the Guidelines; or (ii) a standard that the Department of Housing and Urban Development has designated as an FHA safe harbor. During the term of this Consent Decree, upon reasonable notice, the United States will be permitted reasonable access to such properties to inspect for compliance with such standards, rules, and laws and as further set forth in this Order. During the term of this Consent Decree, CCD shall submit, on an annual basis, a certification to the counsel for the United States affirming that they have retained an FHA Consultant for each Covered Multifamily Dwelling under construction during that year and specifying each covered multifamily dwelling for which an FHA Consultant was retained by CCD to provide advice and the identity (and affiliation, if applicable) of the FHA Consultant. CCD shall provide this certification within 30 days of the end of each 12-month period from the entry of this Consent Decree. Within thirty (30) days of the entry of this Consent Decree, Lettire, on behalf of CCD, shall deposit in a separate account the sum of twenty-thousand dollars ($20,000) for the purpose of compensating any aggrieved persons who may have suffered as a result of discriminatory housing practices at Chestnut Common... (truncated)