A new apartment complex in downtown Orlando has agreed to pay $265,000 after violating the Fair Housing Act by unfairly prohibiting children from common areas and amenities, and misrepresenting the availability of available units to families with children.
Concord Court at Creative Village, which is located at 680 Concord Street, agreed to pay $260,000 to residents who were harmed by their practices and a civil penalty to the government, according to a filing by the Justice Department Middle District of Florida Attorney’s Office.
The case came about after ten families who live at the complex filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which determined that the defendants had violated the Fair Housing Act.
According to court records, the 116-unit low-income apartment housing complex refused to issue building access devices to minor residents, prohibited children from common areas and amenities unless supervised by adults, and misrepresented the availability of units to families with children.
Concord Court is part of Creative Village, which is comprised of Amelia Court and Concord Court. Creative Village Partners, LTD, does business as Concord Court at Creative Village and Amelia Court at Creative Village, while Concord Management, LTD does business as Concord Rents. Those groups are the owners, operators, and managers of Concord Court.
The settlement requires the group to implement nondiscrimination policies and provide fair housing training to employees with management or leasing responsibilities at over 80 residential rental properties they own or operate in the state of Florida.
Anyone who believes they or someone they know may have been discriminated against at Amelia Court at Creative Village because they have children is asked to contact the Justice Department at fairhousing@usdoj.gov, or by calling 1-833-591-0291.
Earlier this year, the new Luminary Green Park opened to the public next to the apartment complex.
To review the complete details of the case, read the consent order through the United States Department of Justice website.