Pearl River Gardens Admits Housing Discrimination In Fed Lawsuit Settlement

The owners of the Pearl River Gardens apartment complex have admitted violating the federal Fair Housing Act by discriminating on the basis of race or color, and have reached a deal with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to settle a federal lawsuit brought against them in March.

Pearl River Gardens on North Middletown Road in Pearl River has agreed it will not discriminate in its apartment rental practices and will pay a $5,500 civil penalty. The settlement calls for a $55,000 judgment to be filed against Pearl River Gardens, but the government will consider the penalty paid with installments totaling $5,500 over the next five years if the complex abides by the terms of the agreement.

The complex, as part of the settlement, has agreed to implement a non-discrimination policy in showing of apartments to prospective tenants, educate employees on federal and state housing discrimination laws and submit periodic reports about its rental activity. U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara also said the U.S. will monitor the apartment complex’s compliance with the terms of the settlement for at least five years.

“Our office will not tolerate illegal discrimination in housing and will use the power of the Fair Housing Act to pursue those who violate the law,” said Bharara. “As this case demonstrates, even landlords who operate relatively small apartment complexes are not immune from the law, and must not discriminate based on race or color.”

The federal lawsuit against Pearl River Gardens was brought as part of an on-going federal review of apartment rental practices in Rockland County. The lawsuit charged that Pearl River Gardens provided false information about the availability of rental apartments and refused to rent to African-Americans, while negotiating rental agreements with whites, since 2007.

The settlement was signed for Pearl River Gardens by managing member Frank Kapiti.