201 Columbus Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10023

The building at 201 Columbus Avenue is a 5-story, 40-unit old law tenement constructed in 1887, currently owned by Ellen Kern. The property has experienced significant recurring issues with heat and hot water, particularly evident in early 2025, with seven separate complaints between February and April 2025 reporting inadequate heating throughout the building, all classified as emergencies. Additionally, there were multiple water supply complaints in April 2025 that HPD was unable to fully investigate.

The building has open violations from December 2024 in apartment 4B regarding roof leaks and damaged wall surfaces, and several concerning safety issues were documented in 2023-2024, including improper use of a second-floor unit for transient purposes without required safety systems, though these violations are currently marked as active with penalties. The property has undergone numerous inspections and investigations over the past few years, revealing ongoing maintenance challenges. In 2023-2024, there were violations related to building safety systems, including fire alarms and sprinkler systems, and issues with self-closing doors in apartments G and 2B.

Recent sidewalk shed violations resulted in fines in late 2023. The building has experienced intermittent rodent activity, with six inspections between 2023 and 2025 showing varying results, though most recent inspections in 2025 have passed. The building's management has demonstrated some responsiveness to maintenance issues, as evidenced by multiple compliance visits, though the frequency of heat and hot water complaints suggests persistent infrastructure challenges. Notably, the building's bedbug reports for the most recent three-year period (2022-2025) show no documented infestations, which is a positive indicator of pest management.