1616 York Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10028

1616 York Avenue is a 5-story, 20-unit residential building constructed in 1920 in Manhattan's Upper East Side, currently owned by Sheena Holness. The building has experienced recurring pest issues, with the most recent inspections in September 2024 resulting in violations for rodent and cockroach infestations in Apartment 4, along with several other open violations including a water leak, defective ceiling plaster, and bathroom caulking issues. The property has also faced multiple safety concerns, with open emergency complaints as of June 2025 regarding smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Earlier this year, several non-emergency complaints were filed about building systems including the intercom/buzzer system and general maintenance.

The building's maintenance history shows a pattern of unsanitary conditions being reported, particularly regarding pests, mold, and garbage storage, though many of these complaints were closed without violations being found. An open violation from 2024 requires proper repair of damaged hardwood flooring in the second story public hall, and there are indications of ongoing building maintenance challenges. The building has consistently passed rodent inspections since 2014, with only one recent failure in February 2024, suggesting some improvement in pest control. Historically, the building has maintained zero bedbug infestations in its most recent five reporting periods (2019-2024), though it has recently filed its 2024 report showing no infestations or eradications during the 2022-2023 period.

The Department of Buildings conducted inspections in 2019 and 2023 with no violations found, though some recent complaints have been documented with open statuses. The property has a documented history of various maintenance issues, from pest control to safety concerns, though not all complaints resulted in violations being issued. The repeated nature of pest-related complaints and recent safety concerns regarding smoke and carbon monoxide detectors suggest ongoing maintenance challenges. However, the building has a strong record of compliance regarding bedbug management and generally passes most inspections, indicating some level of regular maintenance and oversight.