68 Carmine Street, Manhattan, NY 10014

The three-story, three-unit Old Law Tenement building at 68 Carmine Street in the West Village, owned by Jeffrey Kent, has experienced significant maintenance and compliance issues over the past several years. Most notably, in late 2024, there was a cluster of housing maintenance code complaints and violations, including multiple water leaks, window frame issues, mold, and several violations related to unpermitted conditions in the cellar, such as unauthorized living spaces, plumbing fixtures, cooking equipment, and rodent infestations.

The building's cellar conversion has become a particularly contentious issue, with an active Environmental Control Board violation pending against the owner regarding an illegally created Class A apartment, including a kitchen sink, hot plate, water closet, wash basin, and shower, for which a $2,500 penalty has been imposed. The building's maintenance history shows recurring issues with pests, including a pattern of rat activity evidenced by inspections in 2022, 2023, 2024, and more recently in 2025.

While the property has maintained compliance with bedbug reporting requirements since 2021, with no reported infestations or eradications in the past four years, the building has experienced significant maintenance challenges. Recent building complaints regarding illegal conversions and construction work were closed due to inspector access issues in early 2025, suggesting ongoing enforcement difficulties. The recent cluster of housing maintenance complaints in late 2024, which were promptly closed in December 2024, included issues with water leaks, window problems, and sanitation concerns that could impact resident comfort and safety.