144 East 7th Street, Manhattan, NY 10009

144 East 7th Street is a five-story, 79-unit old law tenement building constructed in 1925, currently owned by Richard Podpirka, located in the East Village neighborhood. The building has experienced recurring infrastructure issues in recent months, with the most significant problems occurring in 2025, including multiple heat and hot water outages affecting both individual apartments and the entire building. There are currently open complaints regarding unsanitary conditions related to pests as of April 2025, and the building experienced several water-related issues in March 2025, including heavy flow leaks and damp spots, with one of these complaints classified as an emergency.

The building's safety systems were inspected in late 2024, revealing several violations including defective smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and self-closing doors in Apartment 5A, as well as issues with fire door latchsets in the public hall stairs. While rodent inspections conducted regularly from 2019 through 2025 have consistently passed, the building's maintenance history shows ongoing challenges with basic services, particularly heating and water systems. Records indicate that the building has been proactive in addressing violations when cited, with most recent violations being certified as corrected within a reasonable timeframe.

The property has maintained a clean record regarding bedbugs in recent years (2022-2025), with no reported infestations in the past five annual filings. Three complaints regarding egress issues and elevator service were filed with the Department of Buildings between 2018 and 2020, but none resulted in sustained violations or penalties. Multiple plumbing and electrical permits have been issued between 2019 and 2022, suggesting regular maintenance and system updates are being performed, though the recurring nature of heat and water issues in 2025 raises concerns about the long-term reliability of these systems.