338 West 49th Street, Manhattan, NY 10019

This five-story, 20-unit Old Law Tenement building at 338 West 49th Street in Hell's Kitchen, built in 1920 and currently owned by Matthew Keller, has experienced numerous maintenance and compliance issues in recent years. The building has recurring problems with water-related issues, evidenced by multiple water leak complaints and a rodent infestation pattern from 2023 to 2025, with recent inspections showing rat activity in January, March, and May 2025. Spring 2025 saw multiple health and safety concerns, including mold (unsanitary condition), ceiling issues (paint/plaster), and window frame problems, though HPD inspections were often unable to be completed.

The property has an active ECB violation from August 2023 concerning illegal occupancy and unpermitted modifications in the cellar area, with associated penalties of $2,500. The building's recent history shows recurring issues with heat and hot water, particularly affecting apartments 1FW and 2FW in late 2024, along with multiple complaints about pests (including cockroaches and other insects) throughout 2025. Historical data from 2019 indicates past violations related to fire safety and illegal transient use in apartment 4FW, though these appeared to have been resolved.

The building's management has faced challenges in allowing inspectors access to investigate complaints, as evidenced by multiple "unable to gain access" outcomes on inspection requests. The property has maintained a record of being bedbug-free since 2019, with inspections showing no infestation cases reported in recent years. The most concerning patterns suggest ongoing issues with water management (including leaks and moisture problems), persistent pest control challenges, and some difficulty in facilitating timely inspections for reported problems. While many historical violations have been resolved, the presence of current open complaints and active violations indicates that not all issues have been addressed to regulatory standards.