162 West 54th Street, Manhattan, NY 10019

The 12-story NEW LAW TENEMENT building at 162 West 54th Street in Midtown, owned by Florence Edelstein and containing 72 units, has experienced several recurring maintenance issues over recent years. Of particular concern are the repeated heat and hot water problems, with multiple emergency complaints recorded in both 2023 and 2024 affecting both individual apartments and the entire building. More recently, in March 2025, a food poisoning complaint was filed and remains under investigation.

The building has also faced electrical safety concerns, with multiple violations noted in 2021 regarding exposed electrical wires in 5th-9th story public halls, though these violations are listed as "Open" with no current resolution date. Recent Department of Buildings (DOB) environmental violations (as of late 2023) include issues with the exterior facade at the penthouse level, requiring maintenance of deteriorated stucco with cracks at the north and east exposures. The building has a history of plumbing and heating system problems, with multiple violations and complaints regarding these systems between 2019 and 2024.

In terms of pest management, the building has consistently reported zero bedbug infestations since 2018, and recent rodent inspections (most recently in April 2023) have passed, indicating the building is maintaining compliance with these requirements. While there have been several complaints regarding unauthorized work and permit violations in recent years, most were either found to have no violations at the time of inspection or were resolved through proper permitting processes. The most recent permit activity includes multiple plumbing permits issued in 2024, suggesting ongoing maintenance and system upgrades are being performed.