Jersey City Elevator Outage: Attorney General Issues Notice of Violation

JERSEY CITY, NJ - Residents of 503 Garfield Avenue in Jersey City may soon see relief after enduring an eight-month elevator outage that left many, especially those with disabilities, struggling to access their homes. The building's only elevator had been out of service since November 2023, forcing tenants to climb over 80 steps to reach the upper floors, with some unable to leave their apartments for the entire duration.

According to an announcement by New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, the New Jersey Division on Civil Rights (DCR) issued a Notice of Violation to the building’s owner, Let’s Celebrate Urban Renewal, LLC, for failing to address the elevator outage and provide necessary accommodations for residents with disabilities. This action was based on the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD), which mandates that housing providers must not discriminate against residents based on disabilities and must provide reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to housing.

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“No one should face harm from a housing provider because they have a disability. In New Jersey, that’s against the law,” Platkin said. “Laws only work when they are enforced, and we’re determined to ensure that our residents benefit from the protections granted by the Law Against Discrimination.”

The investigation revealed that the building management was aware, or should have been aware, of the need for accommodations during the elevator outage but failed to provide them. Under the terms of the Notice of Violation, the property owner can contest the allegations or resolve the matter by ceasing the violations and compensating affected individuals. If unresolved, DCR may proceed with a formal complaint that could result in the property owner paying damages, attorney’s fees, and civil penalties.

“Our civil rights laws require housing providers to provide reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. That means, at a bare minimum, that a housing provider must work with residents to ensure that they can safely enter and exit their apartments,” DCR Director Sundeep Iyer stated. “Combating housing discrimination remains a core priority for our office, and we will continue to expand our efforts to ensure that every New Jerseyan can access housing free from discrimination.”

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