491 West 22nd Street, Manhattan, NY 10011

491 West 22nd Street is a historic four-story, seven-unit building in Chelsea, constructed in 1856 and currently owned by Paul Xuereb. The property has experienced recurring heat and hot water issues, with the most recent emergency complaint logged in December 2024, following a pattern of similar complaints throughout January 2022, affecting both individual apartments and the entire building. These heating system problems, though temporarily resolved in some cases, consistently required intervention from the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD).

The building has also faced several maintenance challenges, as evidenced by multiple open violations from 2021-2022, including issues with the facade stucco, sprinkler system equipment, and the need for proper safety notices regarding carbon monoxide detectors and gas leak procedures. A significant number of safety-related notifications appear to be required or overdue, including annual bedbug reports and various tenant safety notices. The property's rodent control history shows mixed results, with inspections in 2024 (November's compliance inspection passed, but October's initial inspection noted rat activity) contrasting with earlier periods where multiple inspections between 2011-2019 consistently passed.

A garbage and recycling storage issue was investigated in 2020, though no violations were found at that time. Despite these challenges, it's worth noting that the bedbug reporting records for 2022-2024 show zero infested units, suggesting effective pest management in that regard. The building's age and ongoing maintenance issues, particularly regarding heating systems and safety compliance, are notable concerns in its recent history, though some improvements have been documented through routine inspections and violations management.