The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has opened an investigation into EPIC Real Properties, Inc. and Community Capital Partners, LP over their planned housing development called “The Meadow,” also known as “EPIC City” or the “East Plano Islamic Center.” The inquiry centers on possible violations of the Fair Housing Act related to religious and national origin discrimination.
HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity is leading the investigation after receiving a complaint from the Texas Workforce Commission. The complaint alleges that the developers engaged in discriminatory practices, including promoting The Meadow as an exclusively Muslim community and describing it as “the epicenter of Islam in America.” Additional allegations include requiring lot owners to financially support a mosque and Islamic educational centers, as well as using a two-tier lottery system for lot sales that gave certain buyers priority access.
"It is deeply concerning the East Plano Islamic Center may have violated the Fair Housing Act and participated in religious discrimination,” said HUD Secretary Scott Turner. “As HUD Secretary, I will not stand for illegal religious or national origin discrimination in housing and will ensure that this matter receives a thorough investigation so that this community is open to all Texans.”
According to HUD, if these allegations are substantiated, they could represent large-scale patterns of religiously discriminatory conduct by those involved with The Meadow project.
