454 West 36th Street, Manhattan, NY 10018

The five-story, 20-unit OLD LAW TENEMENT building at 454 West 36th Street in Hell's Kitchen, owned by John Ilibassi and dating back to 1900, has recently experienced several concerning maintenance issues. Most notably, in May 2025, there was a heat and hot water emergency affecting the entire building, and multiple inspection attempts in early 2025 were unable to access units for evaluation of various issues including ventilation, flooring, and painting/plaster problems. The building has several open violations from 2024, particularly in apartment 5SW, including unresolved issues with heat supply, water leaks, and mold conditions.

Additionally, the property has a history of maintenance challenges, as evidenced by six active violations from April 2024 regarding window issues in apartment 2FE. During early 2025, multiple complaints were filed regarding building shaking or vibration concerns, though inspectors were unable to gain access for evaluation. The building's maintenance record reveals persistent issues with basic services and infrastructure, including historical problems with heat and hot water systems, water leaks, and various other maintenance needs.

Despite these challenges, the property has maintained compliance in recent rodent inspections, passing all checks between 2010 and 2024, and there have been no reported bedbug infestations in the past four reporting periods. The Department of Buildings has documented some unauthorized work in 2018 related to hallway renovations, resulting in a penalty, though this was later resolved. While there have been multiple service requests in 2025, many were marked as closed without inspection access or appropriate follow-up, suggesting potential communication or access issues between residents and inspection authorities. The building's recent history shows a pattern of maintenance issues requiring attention, particularly regarding basic systems and building envelope conditions.