While it may seem the perfect testament to America’s rags-toriches ideal that Washington Heights, known as Crack City just two short decades ago, could today offer desirable condos, the neighbourhood is instead making news again for uglier reasons. In particular at the Bennett, where property managers chose to turn down $1.3-million-U.S.-worth of condo sales after learning that the five intended occupants were mentally retarded.

According to Margaret Puddington, the search for a suitable home for her 26-year-old son, Mark, and four roommates took her through more than 200 properties before she found the two neighbouring units at the Bennett. At first accommodating, the condo board blew off the deal after learning about its future neighbours. While city law allows the board to refuse a group home such as the one Puddington had in mind, such refusal is only permitted if the area is already “saturated” with similar facilities.

In Puddington’s case, the Young Adult Institute, a group offering services to the mentally challenged, had already obtained city approval for the group home. The YAI has filed a discrimination suit against the Bennett under the Fair Housing Act.

» Scott Saxon