21 West 16th Street, Manhattan, NY 10011

21 West 16th Street is a three-story, six-unit residential building in Chelsea, dating back to 1846 and currently owned by Raymond Barns. The building has demonstrated regular compliance with bedbug reporting requirements from 2022 through 2025, with no reported infestations in any of the filing periods. However, there has been recurring maintenance and safety-related issues, particularly in late 2021 through early 2022, when multiple complaints were filed regarding various problems including flooring, ceiling, and plumbing issues.

These complaints, while numerous, were all investigated by the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and no violations were issued. The property has maintained a generally acceptable maintenance record, though there were three documented instances from 2021 to 2023 regarding failure to file annual bedbug reports, which were eventually closed. An investigation regarding illegal hotel rooms in the building was initiated in 2021, but the inspector was unable to gain access.

More concerning are the documented rat activity inspections, particularly in 2017 and 2021, though these were primarily related to rodent control measures rather than direct resident impact. The most recent building activity included a February 2023 paint complaint regarding wall conditions, which was investigated but resulted in no violations. While the building shows periodic maintenance issues, it has largely addressed complaints in a timely manner and maintains current pest reporting compliance through 2025.