23 Catherine Street, Manhattan, NY 10038

As of July 2025, this 5-story, 15-unit residential building at 23 Catherine Street in Chinatown, owned by Abe Cohen, has been experiencing persistent maintenance challenges. The property, constructed in 1900, is currently facing significant rodent issues, with multiple inspections in 2025 showing consistent rat activity despite bait applications. The building has also been grappling with various unsanitary conditions, particularly concerning pests, as evidenced by multiple HPD complaints in 2025.

The building has a concerning pattern of maintenance issues throughout 2024-2025, including two heat/hot water complaints affecting the entire building (January and February 2025), multiple door/window issues, and plumbing problems. The most pressing concerns appear to be concentrated in apartment 5A, where eight open violations were documented in October 2024, including issues with plumbing fixtures, plaster surfaces, window mechanisms, and ceiling problems. Three separate plumbing-related HPD complaints were filed in September 2024, all resulting in violations.

The property has a documented history of pest control efforts, including regular rodent inspections during 2024-2025, though these have not resolved the ongoing infestation issues. Bedbug reports from 2019-2023 indicate sporadic infestations, with the most recent incident recorded in 2023. Environmental Control Board violations from 2018 noted issues with the building's chimney and unauthorized work in an apartment, though these have since been resolved. The building's management has attempted to address some issues, as shown by the issuance of multiple permits for electrical and plumbing work in 2019 and 2020, but many maintenance problems remain unresolved, as evidenced by numerous open violations and service requests.