136 Orchard Street, Manhattan, NY 10002

136 Orchard Street is a five-story, 16-unit Old Law Tenement building constructed in 1900, owned by John Ilibassi and located in the Lower East Side neighborhood. The building has experienced recurring electrical issues, particularly in August-September 2022, with multiple power outages and lighting problems being reported and resulting in HPD violations, including a June 2023 complaint about defective/exposed wiring in the basement that led to an Oath Violation.

Water-related problems were also documented, with a notable heavy flow leak reported in August 2022. The building underwent significant rodent-related challenges in 2021, with multiple DOE complaints regarding mouse sightings and infestations, though recent inspections from 2022 to 2025 have consistently passed rat inspections, indicating improved pest management. The most recent serious compliance issues emerged in 2022, when multiple Housing Maintenance Code violations were issued against Apartment 16, located on the fifth floor, including problems with electrical service, missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and pest infestations.

The building was previously investigated for illegal conversion and illegal hotel use in 2019, resulting in several Environmental Control Board violations regarding fire safety systems and means of egress, though these were ultimately resolved. Recent bedbug reporting from 2022 through 2024 indicates limited infestation history, with only one unit affected in 2021-2022. Notably, the building has passed all rodent inspections since September 2021, reflecting improvements in pest management and building maintenance.