34 Orchard Street, Manhattan, NY 10002

34 Orchard Street is a 4-story, 6-unit residential tenement building in Chinatown, constructed in 1900 and currently owned by Michel Tepller. The building has experienced several notable maintenance issues over recent years, with the most pressing concerns emerging in 2025 involving rodent activity. Between January and May 2025, inspections consistently revealed rat activity, with multiple instances requiring bait applications, though two inspections in 2024 and 2023 had passed without issues.

The building has a documented history of infrastructure challenges, particularly in 2021 when complaints were filed regarding heating and cooking gas issues, though HPD was unable to gain access to verify the problems. In 2019, multiple violations were recorded, including a defective fire escape, issues with carbon monoxide detectors in Apartment 1, problems with fire retardant plaster in the 4th story public hall, and various other maintenance concerns in common areas and individual units, all of which were subsequently addressed and closed. The property has maintained compliance with bedbug reporting requirements since 2021, with no reported infestations or re-infestations in the past four reporting periods, indicating effective pest management practices.

Historical violations from earlier years (2005-2019) included safety concerns such as a defective fire escape, broken baseboards, and issues with doors and lighting, but these have been resolved. The most recent rodent activity concerns suggest an ongoing challenge with pest control, though previous consistent compliance with pest regulations indicates this may be an isolated operational issue rather than a systemic problem. The building's age and history of maintenance violations underscore the importance of regular upkeep, though many historical issues have been addressed through proper violation closure processes.