Suit Puts Hovnanian Under Fire

//October 8, 2007

Around the State – South JerseyGALLOWAY K. Hovnanian, the stateÂs largest homebuilder, was accused last week of violating a state environmental permit by failing to provide affordable housing units at Four Seasons at Historic Smithville, an active adult development encompassing 3,000 homes in Galloway Township.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed by the Fair Share Housing Center in Atlantic County Superior Court, state environmental regulators had approved the development on the condition that 20 percent of the homes would be affordable for low- and moderate-income families. Red Bank-based K. Hovnanian reportedly has not built affordable housing units on the development.

K. Hovnanian Homes spokesman Doug Fenichel said the company has not received the lawsuit so it cannot comment directly on the case.