The federal government says it's pressured a major developer into making 2,500 apartments wheelchair accessible, including in the first lower Manhattan high-rise rental building constructed after Sept. 11, 2001.
The deal announced Friday requires Glenwood Management Corp. to retrofit apartments over three years to make them accessible to disabled people. The company also agrees to spend up to $900,000 to compensate people affected by the lack of accessibility and to pay a $50,000 civil penalty.
The settlement announced by U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara calls for Glenwood to fix apartments in three Manhattan residential rental complexes. Those include Liberty Plaza, a 45-story financial district building with nearly 300 apartments built in 2004.
Glenwood says the agreement resulted from its extensive cooperation since 2008. It plans to fix apartments in nine properties.
