Federal lawsuit targets New Rochelle apartments for disability access issues

New Rochelle is the site of a new federal lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Justice. The suit names Stagg Group as the defendant and alleges the company violated the Fair Housing Act. The complaint identifies 26 Garden Street as one of six properties where accessibility standards were not met.

The lawsuit was filed on Sept. 25 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. It covers six apartment buildings that contain a combined 607 residential units. Prosecutors argue that Stagg Group engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination. They claim the developer designed and constructed multifamily housing that failed to meet federal accessibility requirements.

The New Rochelle property, known as West View, contains 185 apartments. The building was constructed in 2024. The complaint points to two specific deficiencies at this site. A curb ramp near the building entrance has a running slope that makes it inaccessible to wheelchair users. Additionally, obstructions at the laundry room door entrances prevent an accessible route into that facility.

The Fair Housing Act applies to multifamily residential buildings constructed for first occupancy after March 13, 1991. The law requires accessible routes through public and common-use areas. It also mandates doors wide enough for wheelchair passage and design features that permit residents with disabilities to use their apartments. The government alleges Stagg Group failed to comply with these rules at multiple developments.

The suit also covers five other buildings in the Bronx. Riverdale Tower at 3745 Riverdale Ave. is an 89-unit building built in 2024. The government cites issues with bathroom space, sink placement, and parking signage. The Station at 5959 Broadway is a 72-unit building built in 2018. It faces allegations regarding narrow bathroom doors and a fitness center reachable only by stairs. The Hudson at 6327 Broadway is a 90-unit building built in 2022. It is accused of having narrow balcony doorways and excessive thresholds. The Stables at 6375 Broadway is a 42-unit building built in 2022. It has high thermostats and excessive thresholds. The Equestrian at 1680 Pelham Parkway South is a 129-unit building built in 2016. It faces issues with a heavy entrance door and mailbox access.

Four additional Stagg Group properties are listed in the complaint. One is located at 223 Willett Ave. in Port Chester. The others are in the Bronx and Astoria in Queens. The complaint does not identify specific violations at these four addresses. It suggests the pattern of discrimination may extend to them but does not establish that violations occurred at each location.

The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman under docket number 1:26-cv-08372. A waiver of service was filed on Oct. 22. Stagg Group must file a response to the complaint by Dec. 21. An initial pretrial conference is scheduled for Jan. 5, 2027, at 9 a.m. by telephone. As of Oct. 25, the company had not filed an answer to the government’s allegations.

The legal action coincides with an environmental dispute at the same New Rochelle site. A chemical incident on Nov. 4, 2025, injured worker José Candelario. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued a notice of intent to revoke the site’s environmental cleanup certificate on June 1, 2026. The federal housing lawsuit and the state environmental proceedings concern separate legal matters. The Justice Department seeks a court order to correct violations, inspect other properties, and award monetary damages and a civil penalty.