1478 1st Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10075

1478 1st Avenue is an 18-story, 159-unit residential building located in the Upper East Side, constructed in 1964 and currently owned by Jay Reyes. The building has experienced several maintenance and safety issues over the past few years, with the most significant concerns occurring between 2020-2022, including air quality problems (chemical vapors) in November 2020, lead dust complaints in October 2020, and multiple construction-related violations in 2021.

The Department of Buildings issued three violations in February 2021 related to construction safety compliance, resulting in fines totaling $1,870, though these were ultimately dismissed when resolved. The building has also experienced recurring issues with floors, walls, and pest control, with HPD complaints logged in 2021-2022 regarding unsanitary conditions and flooring problems, some of which inspectors could not access to evaluate. The property has a history of maintenance code violations, particularly affecting apartment 4C in late 2018, which required repairs to flooring, smoke detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors.

The building underwent multiple construction projects between 2018-2022, with several Stop Work Orders issued but later rescinded. Notably, the building has maintained a record of successful rodent inspections, passing all inspections since 2010, and has reported zero bedbug infestations in the past seven years. While there were various maintenance and safety violations noted in inspections and complaints, most have been resolved, and the building has consistently responded to housing maintenance code requirements as reflected in the timely closure of most service requests and the issuance of appropriate permits for maintenance work.