238 East 15Th Street, Manhattan, NY 10003

238 East 15th Street, located in Gramercy, is a four-story, heretofore converted Class B building constructed in 1920, currently owned by Kathryn Vercelline. The property has undergone significant construction activities and faced various compliance challenges in recent years.

Most notably, in 2023, the Department of Buildings issued multiple Environmental Control Board violations related to construction safety concerns, including issues with a makeshift pulley system, temporary staircases, and insufficient adjoining property protection during roof work, with penalties totaling $4,375. Several complaints in 2019 regarding unsafe demolition practices and excessive debris led to stop-work orders, though these were later rescinded. The building has experienced recurring pest issues, with 311 complaints about unsanitary conditions and rats recorded in 2019 and 2024, though recent rodent inspections in 2025 and late 2024 have passed.

The property's construction history shows a pattern of safety and compliance challenges, particularly during 2023, when multiple violations were recorded regarding construction practices, though most were subsequently resolved. While the building has maintained regular passing inspections in 2022-2025, including multiple successful rodent inspections, the frequency of violations and complaints about construction safety and pest issues suggests ongoing management challenges. The building's age, at over 100 years old, combined with its history of conversion to Class B status, indicates it has undergone significant modifications over its lifespan, though the most recent documentation suggests improving compliance and inspection results when compared to the more problematic periods of 2019-2020.