New Georgetown Luxury Apartments Sued for Excluding Disabled Residents

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2026 – A new luxury apartment building in Georgetown is facing a lawsuit alleging its design and construction illegally exclude people with disabilities, a charge that highlights a severe and worsening shortage of accessible housing across the nation's capital.

The Equal Rights Center (ERC), a prominent civil rights organization, announced today that it has filed a lawsuit in D.C. Superior Court against Weaver Prospect LLC, the owner of the 115-unit Weavers Row Apartments. The building, which began leasing in 2024, is accused of violating the D.C. Human Rights Act (DCHRA) and the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act (DCPPA) by failing to incorporate legally mandated accessibility features.

Barriers at the Doorstep

According to the complaint, the ERC dispatched civil rights testers to Weavers Row and discovered multiple violations that would make the building uninhabitable for many individuals with disabilities. Among the specific barriers cited were doorway thresholds too high for a wheelchair user to navigate safely and environmental controls, such as thermostats, placed out of their reach. These alleged design flaws would effectively prevent a resident using a wheelchair from accessing their own patio or controlling the temperature in their apartment.

"For decades, we've heard from D.C. residents with disabilities that they need safe, accessible housing options," said ERC Executive Director Kate Scott in a statement. "Weaver could have helped address the shortage of accessible homes by simply designing and building this property in compliance with the law. Instead, constructing inaccessible units contributes to the problem."

The lawsuit argues that these failures are not minor oversights but fundamental barriers that deny equal housing opportunities. The ERC is represented by a formidable legal team, including the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, Handley Farah & Anderson, and the pro bono services of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.

A Crisis of Access in a Historic Neighborhood

The lawsuit against Weavers Row arrives at a critical moment for housing in the District. A November 2023 report, the Metropolitan Washington Regional Fair Housing Plan, identified a "severe shortage" of accessible housing, leaving people with disabilities with few viable options. Nearly a quarter of D.C. residents live with a disability, and about 10% have mobility impairments that require accessible features.

This crisis is particularly acute in historic neighborhoods like Georgetown, where the majority of the housing stock was built before modern accessibility laws and is therefore exempt from such standards. Consequently, new construction projects like Weavers Row are seen as a vital opportunity to create much-needed accessible units. The failure to do so, advocates argue, is a significant setback for housing equity.

The problem extends beyond the private market. The D.C. Housing Authority (DCHA) has faced its own legal challenges for what critics call an "egregious pattern of discrimination." Lawsuits have revealed that hundreds of households have been stuck on waitlists for years—sometimes over a decade—for an ADA-compliant public housing unit.

"New multifamily buildings are required by law to meet a baseline level of accessibility," commented Mirela Missova, Supervising Counsel at the Washington Lawyers' Committee. "Failure to do so is akin to posting a sign that says, 'People with disabilities not welcome here.' It's illegal and it's wrong."

Setting a Precedent for Developers

The legal action against Weaver Prospect LLC could have significant ramifications for the D.C. real estate and construction industry. Both the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the D.C. Human Rights Act set forth clear requirements for new multifamily construction, covering everything from usable doors and accessible routes to the placement of outlets and reinforcement for grab bars in bathrooms.

Legal precedents in this area are strong. In 2018, the U.S. Department of Justice secured an $11.3 million settlement with a major apartment developer for failing to build accessible features in properties across six states and D.C. That settlement mandated millions for retrofits and victim compensation. The ERC itself has a long history of using civil rights testing and litigation to force compliance, recently securing settlements with other D.C. landlords over discrimination related to race and source of income.

For Weavers Row, the ERC is seeking a court order that would compel the owner to bring the existing units into compliance with accessibility laws. The lawsuit also demands that Weaver Prospect LLC design and construct any future properties in accordance with the law and provide comprehensive fair housing training to its employees and agents to prevent future discrimination.

By targeting a new, high-profile luxury development, the ERC and its partners are sending a clear message to developers across the city: accessibility is not an option, but a legal and moral obligation. The outcome of this case will be closely watched by advocates, developers, and city officials as it could set a powerful precedent for enforcing disability rights and shaping a more inclusive future for housing in the District. As of this report, Weaver Prospect LLC has not issued a public statement regarding the lawsuit.