IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Plaintiff,
v.
CIVIL ACTION NO. 00-331-MJR
CITY OF FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS,
ILLINOIS,
Defendant.
_____________________________________
CONSENT DECREE
I. INTRODUCTION
The United States of America filed this action in April 2000 to
enforce the provisions of Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968
(the Fair Housing Act), 42 U.S.C. §§ 3601-3619, against the Defendant,
the City of Fairview Heights, Illinois (the City).
1. Complainant T.R. Forte Investments, Inc. (TR Forte), is a real
estate development and investment company run by complainant
Rodney L. Forte (Forte), who is African-American. Forte is married
to Thalia Forte, who is African-American and has an interest in TR
Forte. In partnership with The Lasker Construction Company (Lasker
Construction), which is owned by Greg Lasker, who is
African-American, Forte developed a plan to build a 154-unit
apartment complex, The Villas at Lake Chester (the Villas), in
Fairview Heights. The Villas were to be sited on land owned by
Intervening Plaintiffs Pauline Brisk, Anthony Holdener, Agnes
Schmiskie, Catherine Thouvenot, Lillian M. Holdener, Robert
Charles Holdener, Frederick J. Holdener, Ronald J. Holdener, Linda
K. Holdener, and Thomas L. Holdener and zoned Planned Residential
(PR).
2. The appraiser, Lee Hill, and the real estate agent, Chiquita
Kimari, retained by Forte and Lasker for the Villas are
African-American. The architect of the Villas was Terry Burruss.
The Villas development was to utilize a U.S. Department of Housing
and Urban Development (HUD) mortgage insurance program through the
State Bank of Danville, Arkansas. The bank was represented by
Judious Lewis, who is African-American.
3. On October 9, 1998, Forte filed a petition or application with the
City to build the Villas. On November 10, 1998, the Fairview
SNIPPETS:
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
The United States of America filed this action in April 2000 to enforce the provisions of
Complainant T.R. Forte Investments, Inc., is a real estate development and investment company
In partnership with The Lasker Construction Company, which is owned by Greg Lasker, who is
The Villas development was to utilize a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
On November 18, 1998, the City held an Aldermanic Planning Committee Meeting at which the
the City's stated reasons for denial were detrimental effect on schools and traffic and
On February 3, 1999, Forte filed a housing discrimination complaint with the Secretary of HUD.
Forte's complaint alleged that Fairview Heights' denial of his proposal to build the Villas
The City denies the United States' allegations and denies any liability on the part of the
Entry into this Consent Decree, and the performance of any acts under this Decree, does not
In settlement of the disputed claims of the United States, the Defendant's insurance company,
Within thirty days of the entry of this Decree, the City shall designate a Fair Housing
The City shall become a member of the St. Louis area Fair Housing Collaborative.
The FHCO shall attend the regular meetings of the FH Collaborative, the Fairview Heights
If the FH Collaborative or AA Committee are renamed, reorganized, or discontinued, the FHCO
Within fourteen days after the training sessions, the written attendance certificationshall
The City shall maintain all records relating to these proposals for at least the duration of
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