438 West 52nd Street, Manhattan, NY 10019

The five-story, 14-unit residential building at 438 West 52nd Street in Hell's Kitchen, owned by Steve Croman, has experienced recurring heat and hot water issues throughout its recent history. Between January 2024 and February 2025 alone, there were at least seven documented complaints regarding inadequate heat and hot water, with the most recent batch of complaints in early 2025 showing patterns of both building-wide and apartment-specific issues.

Notably, HPD inspections during this period revealed violations, though some complaints were resolved with tenants reporting restoration of services. The building has been subject to multiple inspections and complaints about illegal hotel rooms, particularly in early 2025, with enforcement actions taken. Historical documents show a concerning pattern of water-related issues, particularly in apartment 2B, during 2019, including violations for scalding hot water (measured at 174°F), inadequate cold water supply, and various plumbing deficiencies.

The property has maintained a good record regarding pest issues, with recent bedbug reports showing zero infestation cases from 2020 through 2024, and all rodent inspections from 2017 through 2024 resulting in passing grades. The building's compliance with bedbug reporting requirements has generally been satisfactory, with regular filings showing no active infestations. A pattern of access issues for inspectors is evident in some complaints, as seen in multiple instances where inspectors were unable to gain entry to units for necessary evaluations.