197 Madison Street, Manhattan, NY 10002

197 Madison Street, a 6-story Old Law Tenement built in 1901, currently owned by Konstadinos Stavrou, has experienced persistent structural and maintenance issues in recent years. The most pressing current concern is an open water leak with heavy flow reported in May 2025, which follows a pattern of similar water-related problems dating back to 2018, including violations recorded in 2024 affecting the public hall stairs on the 3rd and 4th stories.

The building has also faced various safety and maintenance challenges, including electrical issues (2020), security concerns with doors (2018), and multiple rodent activity reports between 2023 and 2025, though recent rodent inspections show passing results. The property has a history of unauthorized work and violations related to commercial use, particularly concerning storefront signage and modifications. Three active Environmental Control Board violations from 2022-2024 involve work without proper permits for various installations, including illuminated signs and store modifications.

There have been recurring issues with water damage and building maintenance, as evidenced by multiple emergency water leak complaints and several housing maintenance code violations. While the building has maintained relatively good bedbug control (reporting zero infestations in the past three years), the recent violations and maintenance patterns suggest ongoing challenges with building upkeep. The property has gone through several permit issuance processes between 2019 and 2020, indicating some level of attempted compliance with building regulations.