Accusations of racism at New York's famed Dakota apartment building

[marmar]

from the Independent UK:




Most celebrated apartment block in Manhattan accused of racism

By David Usborne, US Editor
Thursday, 3 February 2011


A beastly brouhaha has erupted at the Dakota Building, arguably the snootiest and most self-regarding apartment building in all of Manhattan, after one of its long-time residents filed a lawsuit this week accusing its managing board of straying beyond the bounds of familiar snobbery into outright racial discrimination.

The building where John Lennon lived before being assassinated outside its grand front entrance in 1980 was quivering yesterday, or should have been, from the shock of the legal assault, set in motion by Alphonse Fletcher, a prominent Wall Street financier and an African American, who has lived there for almost 20 years.

Angry that he was refused permission to buy an apartment adjacent to the one he already owns to accommodate his growing family, Mr Fletcher has let loose against the building, which, like many others in Manhattan, operates as a co-operative. The suit accuses the co-op board, of which he recently served for several years as president, of systematically discriminating against residents and would-be residents who happen not to be white.

Like countless other co-op buildings with fancy addresses on Central Park, the Dakota sees fit to exercise all kinds of apparent legal discrimination when vetting prospective buyers of its apartments. To gain approval, would-be residents must demonstrate stellar levels of financial security. Other conditions vary but range from the kinds of pets you have to the amount of money you are giving to institutions like the Metropolitan Museum of Art. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/most-celebrated-apartment-block-in-manhattan-accused-of-racism-2202611.html