422 East 53rd Street, Manhattan, NY 10022

The 34-story residential building at 422 East 53rd Street, currently managed by Jeannette Vargas, has experienced several concerning maintenance issues in recent years. Most notably, there are currently four open violations (as of September 2024) related to the wood flooring conditions in Apartment 20G, where multiple areas have been cited for needing proper repair. The building has also faced recurring elevator-related complaints, with multiple reports between 2023-2025, though inspections generally found no violations warranting action. A significant safety concern emerged in 2024 with the emergence of pest issues, though these were subsequently addressed.

The building has documented some ventilation and air quality problems in 2024, along with various door and window maintenance issues. In addition to these maintenance challenges, the property has several active violations related to its infrastructure and safety systems. These include outstanding defects with self-closing doors in common areas (Class C violation from 2024), as well as historical issues with fire escape maintenance, heat and hot water systems, and water leaks in 2022-2023. The building's management has also faced scrutiny for not properly maintaining the privately owned public space (POPS) areas, with active violations from 2018-2022 regarding maintenance and storage issues in the plaza area.

While the building underwent several inspections and received most recent violations dismissed for administrative reasons, there are still outstanding issues that require attention. The property has shown some improvement in pest management, with the most recent bedbug report from 2024 showing only two units affected, with successful eradication. Rodent inspections from 2025 passed, indicating some success in pest control efforts. The building's management has also been actively addressing maintenance issues as they arise, with multiple work orders and repairs documented through the Department of Buildings and Housing Preservation and Development systems. However, the recurrence of similar issues, particularly regarding flooring, elevator complaints, and ventilation problems, suggests ongoing challenges with property maintenance and resident comfort.