244 East 51st Street, Manhattan, NY 10022

244 East 51st Street is a 4-story, 7-unit residential building in Midtown, owned by Leo Fox and constructed in 1910. The property has experienced several significant maintenance issues over the past few years, with the most recent being a rodent sighting in July 2023 that resulted in health department violations requiring follow-up inspections. The building has a documented history of heating and water issues, particularly in late 2018 when multiple complaints were filed regarding both apartment-specific and building-wide problems, though inspections found no violations. Boiler-related concerns were notable between 2018-2019, with three separate complaints about defective or inoperative equipment, and subsequent environmental control board violations related to the boiler's maintenance were issued, with one active penalty of $1,250 as of 2019.

The building has demonstrated reasonably good pest management practices, with all bedbug reports from 2020-2025 showing no infestations. Recent rodent control efforts have shown mixed results; while the most recent inspection in February 2025 passed, there was evidence of rat activity in July 2023. Violation notices relating to bedbug reporting requirements were issued in 2021-2024, though these appear to have been rectified as subsequent filings show zero infested units. Other infrastructure issues included a slow water leak investigation in late 2018, which was ultimately closed without violations being found, and a smoking violation from September 2018 that was addressed.

The building's maintenance history shows regular inspections and prompt reporting of issues, though access restrictions sometimes hindered inspections, as seen in multiple heating-related complaints. The property has maintained its building class as "HEREAFTER CONVERTED CLASS A," suggesting it operates as a rent-stabilized or similar regulated building. The most recent violation records indicate active management of pest control and response to regulatory requirements, with inspections showing ongoing compliance efforts. However, the recurring nature of rodent issues and heating problems in 2018 suggests historical challenges with these systems, despite recent improvements as evidenced by passing inspections and zero new bedbug infestations reported since 2020.