318 East 70th Street, Manhattan, NY 10021

The 5-story, 20-unit tenement building at 318 East 70th Street on the Upper East Side, owned by Martin Scharf and constructed in 1910, has experienced recurring heat and hot water issues over the past five years. Most recently, in January 2024, there were complaints about heat and hot water problems in individual apartments and issues with steam pipes or risers, though HPD was unable to gain access to inspect some units. These followed a pattern of heat-related problems in 2020, when multiple complaints regarding the entire building were filed in October and November, though in those cases residents reported that heat and hot water had been restored before inspections were completed.

The building has also faced several safety and maintenance concerns, as evidenced by New York City Housing Maintenance Code violations. In January 2024, three violations were recorded, including issues with self-closing doors at the building entrance and vestibule, and debris obstructing egress from fire escapes on the 5th story. A 2020 violation highlighted construction materials blocking fire escape access.

Rodent control measures have been actively maintained, with bait applications recorded in early 2020, though prior inspections from 2016 through 2019 consistently passed. Notably, the building's bedbug records from 2021 to 2024 show no infestations, with only two cases reported in 2022-2023 and all units reportedly eradicated. The property has a history of addressing basic maintenance issues, as shown by prompt responses to various complaints and violations, with most being certified as corrected within reasonable timeframes.