168 Lexington Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10016

The property at 168 Lexington Avenue is a three-story, two-family house built in 1915, currently owned by Hok Lou. The building has experienced several significant maintenance and safety issues in recent years, with the most pressing concerns occurring in 2023-2024. Notably, in April 2023, the Department of Buildings issued multiple violations related to lithium battery storage, revealing unsafe conditions including improper construction, flammable vapor risks, and an unauthorised wooden structure with electrical work.

These violations were formally resolved through Environmental Control Board actions, with penalties totaling $10,000. The building has also faced recurring utility issues, including a power outage in June 2024 and a heat/hot water problem in March 2023, both of which were eventually addressed. Earlier concerns from 2020 included pest-related issues, with the Department of Health noting rodent problems in both food establishment and housing contexts.

The property has undergone several inspections for rodent control, with mixed results - failing an inspection in December 2020 but passing subsequent evaluations in 2021, 2012, 2011, and 2010. Multiple construction-related complaints were filed between 2022-2025, including concerns about illegal after-hours work, building vibrations, and electrical wiring issues, though inspections typically found no violations. Historical records show previous concerns about the building's use as an illegal hotel in 2019-2020, as well as ventilation system issues in 2020-2022, with most complaints being resolved through proper inspections and corrective actions. The building's overall maintenance history suggests periodic infrastructure and regulatory compliance challenges, particularly regarding utility systems and safety protocols.