87 Baxter Street, Manhattan, NY 10013

87 Baxter Street is a 5-story, 15-unit Old Law Tenement building located in Chinatown, constructed in 1915 and currently owned by 87 Baxter Street Realty LLC. The property has experienced several maintenance and compliance issues over recent years, with the most recent concerns involving food safety incidents in early 2025 and summer 2023. Between 2019-2023, there were significant violations and maintenance matters, including issues with fire escape safety, unauthorized alterations, and interior maintenance problems affecting Apartment 5.

The building has faced recurring electrical and ventilation system access issues in 2021, though some electrical complaints were resolved without violations. Recent inspections in 2024-2025 showed improved outcomes, with rodent inspections producing mixed results but generally passing in 2025. The property has maintained a clean record regarding bedbug infestations, with no reported cases since 2018. There are two active Department of Buildings violations from 2019 related to unauthorized construction of a metal canopy and failure to properly sign off on an expired permit, though there have been subsequent dismissals of related inspection violations from 2018-2020.

Regular compliance inspections have been conducted under Local Law 188/17, with varying degrees of access issues noted. The building's maintenance history reveals periods of deferred maintenance and compliance challenges, particularly in 2021 when multiple access-related inspection failures occurred. However, more recent records suggest improved maintenance practices, as evidenced by multiple successful permit issuances and completion of work requiring permits. The property has also maintained regular rodent control inspections, with compliance inspections showing either passing results or the identification of rat activity, indicating ongoing monitoring and management of this issue.