525 West 49th Street, Manhattan, NY 10019

The 6-story, 47-unit tenement building at 525 West 49th Street in Hell's Kitchen, owned by James Hefelfinger, has experienced a series of concerning issues in recent years, particularly related to sanitation and maintenance. Most recently, in April 2025, multiple HPD violations were documented, including problems with cabinets, pests, ventilation systems, and mold, though not all inspections found violations. The building has a persistent history of mold issues, with three separate complaints recorded in 2024-2025, and multiple violations related to building maintenance including a leaking roof and defective fire retardant materials in the 6th story public hall.

The property has experienced several significant infrastructure problems in recent years, including boiler issues in 2023 (with Environmental Control Board violations) and elevator service problems in 2019 (also resulting in ECB violations). A concerning open violation from 2020 involves defective fire egress features in the basement apartment B. However, there is a positive note regarding pest management, as the building has maintained an active bedbug reporting history showing zero infestations since 2021, and recent rodent inspections have consistently passed.

Historical maintenance issues that have been effectively addressed include a major heat/hot water outage in 2022 that was resolved promptly, and multiple painting and plastering complaints from 2024 that were closed following repairs. The building has active DOB violations regarding FISP Cycle 9B Technical Report filing, though this appears to be procedural rather than indicating a current safety concern. The property has undergone regular inspections related to building health and safety requirements, with most findings being addressed promptly through necessary repairs and certifications.