496 9th Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10018

The 5-story, 8-unit tenement building at 496 9th Avenue, owned by John Esposito and built in 1901, has experienced several significant maintenance issues over the past three years. The most concerning recent complaint was filed in October 2023 regarding heat and hot water problems affecting the entire building, though HPD was unable to gain access for inspection.

The building has faced persistent pest issues, with multiple complaints in mid-2023 resulting in violations, particularly affecting apartment 4A, which was cited in August 2023 for a roach and mice infestation (classified as Class C violations), along with multiple violations related to broken plaster surfaces, missing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and various repair needs. Infrastructure concerns have also been documented, including emergency issues with flooring/stairs in July 2023, though some complaints regarding floors and walls were found to have no violations upon inspection. More recently, the building's rodent inspection history shows a failed compliance inspection in October 2023 and successful initial inspections in the previous years, suggesting ongoing challenges with pest control.

A concerning incident regarding egress was reported in December 2022, though no violations were found at the time of inspection. The Department of Buildings has recorded some permit-related activity, including an issued permit in October 2018, but a work without permit complaint in May 2025 was closed due to inspector's inability to gain access. While the building has maintained an apparently effective bedbug management system with no reported infestations in recent years, the persistence of other maintenance issues, particularly regarding pest control and building systems like heat, suggests ongoing challenges with property maintenance and resident comfort.