61 1st Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10003

The five-story, 16-unit tenement building at 61 1st Avenue in the East Village, owned by Russell Cooper, has experienced several significant events over recent years. Most notably, the building has faced ongoing ventilation issues in its food establishment areas, with complaints filed in 2022 and 2023, and a construction-related complaint in 2022, all of which were eventually addressed. In late 2020, there was a reported pest-related unsanitary condition, though inspectors could not gain access to verify the claim.

The Department of Buildings issued violations in June 2023 for failure to file external low-pressure inspections for 2018-2020, but these were subsequently dismissed in July 2024. A work without permit complaint filed in April 2025 resulted in no violations being found. The building has maintained a relatively clean record regarding bedbug infestations, with no reported cases since 2020, and consistent reporting showing either zero infestations or successful eradications in recent years.

Rodent inspections have produced mixed results, with some inspections in 2024 showing rat activity and other compliance issues, though recent inspections in 2023-2025 have passed. The most recent 311 complaint history suggests proactive addressing of food establishment-related issues, while the building's overall maintenance record shows a pattern of timely closure to reported complaints. While the building has faced some challenges, especially regarding ventilation and rodent activity, recent inspection results indicate improvements in property conditions.