5 Morton Street, Manhattan, NY 10014

5 Morton Street is a 5-story, 20-unit Old Law Tenement building located in the West Village, owned by Felix Bernardo and constructed in 1872. The building's recent history reveals several concerning patterns, particularly during late 2024, when multiple complaints were filed regarding unsanitary conditions, including pest infestations and garbage storage issues.

While the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) conducted inspections in October 2024, they were unable to assess the pest complaint due to access issues, though the garbage storage complaint was investigated without finding violations. More significantly, in early 2025, the building faced a plumbing violation, and in February 2023, the building was cited for corroded fire escapes requiring maintenance. Between 2019 and 2020, the property was involved in several serious violations related to unauthorized transient use, including illegal hotel room operations and safety code violations.

These violations, which included problems with means of egress, fire alarm systems, and sprinkler requirements, resulted in multiple Environmental Control Board penalties totaling $10,000, though records indicate they were subsequently resolved. The building has maintained a consistent record of passing rodent inspections every year since 2016, and the bedbug reporting for the past seven years shows zero infested units, though recent complaints in 2024 suggest some ongoing sanitation challenges. The property has also had two enforcement work orders recorded in 2023 and 2024, further indicating regulatory oversight requirements.