138 East 37th Street, Manhattan, NY 10016

The 5-story, 9-unit building at 138 East 37th Street in Murray Hill, owned by 138 Third Lexington LLC, has experienced several significant maintenance and compliance issues over the past five years. Most recently, in January 2025, there were complaints regarding lack of heat and hot water throughout the building, though HPD was unable to gain access for inspection. The building has faced multiple violations related to unauthorized modifications, particularly during December 2020 when inspectors noted unpermitted work involving additional water and waste lines, improper installation of gas lines, and concerns about the cellar area being occupied contrary to permitted use.

These violations resulted in combined penalties exceeding $1,800. The property has also demonstrated ongoing challenges with building systems, as evidenced by multiple complaints in 2020 about inadequate sprinkler systems and plumbing maintenance issues. Prior to these events, there were concerns about illegal hotel room conversions in 2019, though inspectors were unable to fully verify these claims.

The building's history shows consistent compliance with rodent inspections, with all recent inspections passing, including the most recent one in March 2025. While the building's bedbug reporting history from 2021 through 2024 indicates no infestations, the recent heating system complaints suggest ongoing maintenance challenges. The property has maintained a regular filing of bedbug reports, showing diligence in this aspect of building maintenance.