72 Mercer Street, Manhattan, NY 10012

The 7-story, 9-unit building at 72 Mercer Street in SoHo, owned by Harriet Kyrous, has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues since its construction in 2005. Most notably, in June 2023, there were serious concerns about fire escape safety, with multiple complaints to various agencies including the Department of Buildings (DOB), Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), and resulting in an Environmental Control Board violation for a partially obstructed exit passageway staircase B affecting multiple floors (3-6) due to garbage cans and household items.

This violation carried a penalty of $1,250. The building has also had recurring elevator-related issues, with multiple violations documented between 2017-2020, including a significant failure to correct defects found during 2017's CAT 1 inspection/tst, though these violations were ultimately dismissed. Despite these concerning incidents, the building has maintained a clean record in terms of bedbug infestations, with all annual inspections between 2019-2025 showing zero infested or re-infested units.

Rodent inspections have consistently passed from 2012 through 2024, indicating generally good pest control. The property has demonstrated compliance with various housing maintenance codes, with 311 service requests and housing maintenance complaints generally resulting in no violations or being promptly closed. Recent building permits from 2019-2021 indicate regular maintenance and upkeep, including multiple issued permits for exterior/waterproofing work and plumbing-related activities, suggesting ongoing investment in building maintenance.