68 East 1st Street, Manhattan, NY 10003

68 East 1st Street is a 6-story, 24-unit Old Law Tenement building constructed in 1920 and currently owned by Michael Lavian. The building has experienced recurring maintenance issues in recent years, with the most significant problems occurring in 2023.

These include multiple violations related to water damage, ceiling maintenance, and plumbing issues, particularly affecting apartments 6A and 4B. Notable 2023 violations include an active Class C infestation of roaches in apartment 6A, multiple plumbing issues in apartment 4B resulting in dangerously hot water, and various maintenance deficiencies such as a broken floor in 6A and a missing newel post on the 5th floor. The building's elevator system has been a recurring area of concern, with multiple complaints about service and safety features between 2019 and 2021, resulting in ECB violations and fines related to safety devices and emergency access.

Inspection records show consistent passing results for rodent inspections from 2021 through 2025, and there have been no reported bedbug infestations in the past several years, with the most recent filings (2022-2024) showing zero infested or eradicated units. The building also has two active DOB violations related to the failure to file inspection reports for the 2017 boiler and 2018 external low-pressure inspection. While the building has demonstrated improvements in certain areas, as evidenced by the closure of many past violations and consistent rodent inspection passes, the recurring nature of water-related issues and the building's age suggest ongoing maintenance challenges.