985 2nd Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10022

At 985 2nd Avenue in Midtown, the five-story, 16-unit old law tenement built in 1920 has experienced persistent heat and water supply issues throughout 2024, with multiple emergency complaints made to HPD regarding both building-wide and apartment-specific heating problems. Most notably, there have been seven heat/hot water complaints between January and November 2024, with HPD frequently unable to gain access for inspections. The building has also faced various infrastructure challenges, including multiple plumbing issues in early 2024, and a rat infestation problem that has required several inspections and bait applications between 2023 and 2025.

Recent violations from 2023-2024 indicate ongoing concerns with building safety systems, including self-closing doors at the bulkhead to the roof that remain listed as open violations since 2023. While the building has maintained a clean record regarding bedbug infestations over the past five years, multiple emergency repairs have been documented through the Department of Buildings, including two Stop Work Orders related to inspector withdrawal in 2021, though these were fully rescinded in 2023. The property's maintenance history reveals a significant pattern of heating system problems, with the most recent heating complaint filed in November 2024 remaining unresolved as of the latest data.

Various code violations have been addressed over time, including requirements for carbon monoxide detectors and smoke alarms in 2024, though the specific dates of correction are not consistently documented. The building has undergone several emergency repair works, including plumbing repairs in January 2024, and the Department of Buildings has issued multiple permits for work at the property between 2018 and 2022. Recent rodent inspections in 2025 showed compliance, though earlier inspections in 2024-2025 had noted rat activity. The building's owners have generally responded to violations and complaints, with many cases being closed after inspections, though repeated complaints suggest ongoing maintenance challenges, particularly regarding heating systems and building security features.