508 West 29th Street, Manhattan, NY 10001

508 West 29th Street is a 5-story, 29-unit Old Law Tenement building in Chelsea, constructed in 1901 and currently owned by John Ilibassi. The building has experienced recurring heating system issues in January 2024, with four emergency heat/hot water complaints filed in three consecutive weeks, though HPD was unable to gain access for inspections. Prior to this, the building faced a significant mold issue in December 2022, which was verified and corrected according to HPD records.

Between 2018-2021, there were multiple notable safety concerns, particularly regarding fire escapes, with several complaints filed in 2018 about egress issues, though no violations were ultimately issued. More recently, from 2021-2022, the building has been subject to several Environmental Control Board violations related to fire safety systems and occupancy issues, particularly concerning an unauthorized transient use of Apartment 10. These violations include failure to provide required sprinkler and fire alarm systems, and problems with means of egress, generating substantial penalties totaling $40,000. The building's maintenance history shows consistent compliance with bedbug reporting requirements since 2019, with no reported infestations, and recent rodent inspections (as of 2024) have been passed, indicating improved pest management compared to earlier years with multiple rat activity findings between 2017-2018.

The building has undergone various repairs and maintenance work, with several permits issued in 2024 for emergency work. A particular area of concern has been the building's compliance with immediately hazardous violations, with certain violations issued in 2018-2021 remaining active as of the latest records, though these were dismissed in one instance in 2021. The property's inspection and complaint history shows periodic issues with access during inspections, as evidenced by multiple cases where inspectors were unable to gain entry, affecting the resolution of complaints. While many historical violations have been resolved and the building has maintained proper bedbug reporting compliance, the recurring heating issues in 2024 and active violations related to fire safety systems and occupancy use represent the most pressing current concerns, though these are somewhat mitigated by recent inspections passing certain safety requirements.