521 West 42nd Street, Manhattan, NY 10036

As of May 2025, 521 West 42nd Street, a 19-story, 72-unit residential building constructed in 2005 and owned by Peter Fine, is experiencing multiple ongoing maintenance issues. Most notably, there are three open complaints as of May 2025 related to building systems: an intercom/buzzer issue, a plumbing issue affecting a basin/sink, and a plumbing issue affecting a bathtub/shower. The building has a history of maintenance challenges, with the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) and Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) records showing various violations and repairs needed in apartments, particularly in apartment 15B, which has multiple open violations from 2024 related to door hardware, radiator cover, light fixture, and bathroom wall issues. The building's elevator system has been a recurrent source of problems, with multiple violations and repair requirements documented between 2020 and 2025, including a notable Class 1 violation in 2025 regarding a single device with no alternate service.

The property has also faced infrastructure challenges, including water damage issues affecting both the elevator system and various apartments. The elevator violations, in particular, have resulted in significant penalties, with records showing fines ranging from $625 to $1250 between 2022 and 2023 for various elevator-related issues. Additionally, the building has documented rodent activity, with multiple inspections showing rat activity and bait application between late 2024 and 2025, though the most recent inspection in May 2025 passed. There have also been persistent plumbing and maintenance issues, as evidenced by multiple plumbing complaints and emergency repairs needed between 2024 and 2025, including work on sinks, bathtubs, and flooring. The building has maintained a relatively stable history in terms of occupancy and structural changes, with no major renovations or alterations noted since its construction.

While there have been several illegal hotel room investigations between 2023 and 2024, most resulted in either no violations or inability to gain access for inspection. The property has filed bedbug reports for 2023-2024 showing one infested unit each year, though these appear to have been promptly addressed with eradication confirmed. Recent DOB inspections as of 2024 show two active violations regarding the failure to submit required energy reports, though these are process-related rather than indicative of building condition issues. This summary highlights the building's ongoing maintenance challenges, particularly concerning building systems like the elevator, plumbing, and pest control, while noting the relative stability of the building's basic structure since 2005. The most recent service requests and violations point to continuing issues with building systems and infrastructure that require monitoring and timely resolution.