188 1st Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10009

The five-story, eight-unit tenement building at 188 First Avenue in the East Village, owned by John McCarthy, has experienced several significant incidents and ongoing maintenance challenges over recent years. A major fire incident in October 2018 affected multiple units (apartments 1, 3, 4, and 5) and caused structural damage requiring subsequent repairs and emergency work. The building has undergone multiple construction and repair projects, with several violations documented between 2018 and 2024, including issues with construction safety compliance, illegal after-hours work, and improper roof protection.

Most notably, there are active violations related to failure to file required annual boiler inspection reports (as of June 2024) with a penalty of $3,125. Recent building conditions show ongoing challenges with vermin management, though recent inspections by the Department of Health (2025) have passed. The building showed regular rodent activity in late 2023 through 2024, with bait applied on multiple occasions.

There have been no bedbug infestations reported in the past six years, according to the annual bedbug reporting requirements. The property has also been subject to multiple Department of Buildings inspections and complaints regarding various maintenance issues, including electrical supply problems in public areas, brick repairs at the oil tank enclosure, and multiple violations related to construction safety. While the building has received several permits for emergency work and repairs since 2019, the persistent violations and regulatory compliance issues suggest ongoing management challenges.