129 1st Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10003

The 5-story, 8-unit tenement building at 129 First Avenue, owned by Tara Dexter and constructed in 1900, has experienced significant maintenance challenges in recent years. Most notably, the building has faced persistent heat and hot water issues, with eight complaints filed between February and April 2025, all involving the entire building's systems and some categorized as emergencies. There is currently one open electric complaint from March 2025 regarding outlet/switch issues.

Apartment 4A has emerged as a particular focus of maintenance concerns, with multiple Housing Maintenance Code violations recorded in 2024 including defective doors, non-functional carbon monoxide detectors, pest infestations, and problems with the intercom system. The building's recent history includes serious structural and safety concerns, as evidenced by Department of Buildings violations regarding cracks and missing masonry on exterior walls (2023), and multiple complaints about building stability and shaking/vibration issues (2023 and 2021). Two active ECB violations from late 2023 relate to non-compliance with orders to file necessary documentation regarding structural conditions.

The property has also faced electrical system challenges, including lighting issues and outlet problems, along with rodent inspection results showing recurring "failed for other reasons" and "rat activity" findings between 2023 and 2025. While the building's management has generally addressed individual service requests, many inspection attempts for various complaints were unable to gain access to units for verification of conditions. The building has maintained a pest-free record for bedbugs in the past five reporting periods, with no reported infestations or eradications. However, the ongoing pattern of heat/hot water problems, electrical issues, and structural concerns suggests continuing maintenance challenges for this century-old building.