79 East 2nd Street, Manhattan, NY 10003

The 5-story, 4-unit building at 79 East 2nd Street, owned by Stefan Benn, has experienced numerous maintenance and safety issues in recent years, with the most pressing concerns occurring in 2024. Currently, there are active violations related to water damage in Unit 1, including leaks affecting ceilings and plaster surfaces, and an open violation regarding an unpermitted roof alteration creating a duplex space. The building has a troubling history of water-related issues, with multiple emergency water leak complaints documented in September 2024 alone.

Additional serious concerns include active Environmental Control Board violations for unsafe electrical equipment conditions and an unregistered boiler from 2022, as well as multiple failures to file required external pressure inspections between 2020 and 2023. The property has shown consistent issues with compliance and maintenance requirements, evidenced by multiple complaints and violations. In 2022, there were three separate incidents involving broken or missing window guards, though these resulted in no violations.

A series of complaints in late 2021 and early 2022 related to unsanitary conditions around garbage and recycling storage were documented, though inspections were often unable to gain access. The building's maintenance history shows some attention to pest control, with rodent inspections showing consistent passing results up to 2025, and the most recent bedbug report from May 2025 indicates no infested units or re-infestations during the past year. Despite these recent improvements, the current active violations and unresolved maintenance issues suggest ongoing challenges with the building's upkeep and regulatory compliance.