GOP donor Alex Spanos’ sons to pay millions in settling federal lawsuit for accessible housing
By APWednesday, January 13, 2010
Housing advocates settle suit for disabled renters
FRESNO, Calif. — Thousands of renters with disabilities are poised to get extreme home makeovers thanks to a major settlement ending a federal lawsuit against a development company run by the sons of San Diego Chargers owner Alex Spanos.
The settlement announced by the National Fair Housing Alliance will require the A.G. Spanos Companies to retrofit apartments across the country with wheelchair-friendly doorways, graded walkways and other improvements to ease access for the disabled.
The Spanos’ companies also agreed to set up a $4.2 million fund for disabled renters and homeowners across the country who want to rehab their own homes.
The settlement was approved in November by a U.S. District Court judge in Oakland, and the first payments went out in the last few weeks.
