147 Essex Street, Manhattan, NY 10002

The 5-story, 8-unit building at 147 Essex Street, built in 1900 and currently owned by Kin Lau, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues over recent years. Most notably, in July 2023, there was a building shaking/structural stability complaint that resulted in an Oath violation. The building has faced recurring pest problems, with multiple HPD complaints between 2018-2020 citing unsanitary conditions related to garbage/recycling storage and pest issues, though recent inspections show no current infestations.

Between 2019-2021, several apartments experienced critical maintenance problems including heating issues, cooking gas supply problems, and various maintenance violations such as water leaks, carbon monoxide and smoke detector deficiencies, and door-related issues. More recent concerns include an active ECB violation from July 2023 regarding deteriorated cornice conditions at the front facade, and a 2020 violation related to improperly installed air conditioning units blocking fire escape access. The building's safety systems received attention in 2021 when three apartments were found to have missing safety equipment, including smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

The property has generally passed recent rodent inspections, with the most recent being in March 2025, though there was one instance of rat activity recorded in March 2024. A bedbug report filed in late 2024 showed no infested units during the previous three years. The building has also been subject to scrutiny regarding potential illegal hotel conversions, with several complaints between 2020 suggesting unauthorized rentals, though not all inspections resulted in violations. While the building has had its share of maintenance issues over the years, recent inspection results show some improvement in pest control and safety compliance, with most violations being properly addressed and closed.