NEW YORK CITY—Vornado Realty Corp. has agreed to upgrade parking lots and garages at 20 of its shopping centers around New York state in order to comply with requirements and design standards set forth in the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
The suit, brought by State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, came about after there were complaints over accessibility barriers at a Vornado garage in the Rego Center, located at 61-35 Junction Blvd., in Queens. The facility was investigated, along with a Bronx shopping center, at 1750-1780 Gun Hill Rd. Among concerns identified at the Queens center were a ramp that, by law, was too steep, missing handrails and an accessible route that ended at an abrupt step down into the parking area.
Five of the centers Vornado will repair are in the city while six are on Long Island. Others are located in Albany, Broome, Dutchess, Erie, Monroe, Onondaga and Westchester counties.
Under the terms of the settlement, the company will pay $70,000 in penalties and fees and it is required to retain an ADA expert to survey the parking lots and garages at its shopping center locations, produce reports identifying where barriers exist and take remedial action to bring each lot or garage into compliance with New York State's human rights laws and federal accessibility standards within one year.
In addition, Vornado must adopt policies, procedures and training for employees about the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act to ensure ongoing compliance with accessibility requirements. Lastly, it will ensure that any new parking structure construction complies with state and federal accessibility laws and standards. A Vornado spokesman did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
Says Schneiderman, “Everyone in New York State deserves equal access to retail establishments, regardless of disability status, in order to enjoy a full and independent life—and because it's the law. This agreement ensures that any barriers at Vornado's shopping centers will be removed, to the benefit of New Yorkers from all walks of life.”
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Rayna Katz
Rayna Katz is a seasoned business journalist whose extensive experience includes coverage of the lodging sector, travel and the culinary space. She was most recently content director for a business-to-business publisher, overseeing four publications. While at Meeting News, a travel trade publication, she received a Best Reporting award for a story on meeting cancellations in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
