130 Lenox Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10026

The 240-unit, 11-story residential building at 130 Lenox Avenue, owned by Heather Johnson and constructed in 2000, has experienced recurring infrastructure and maintenance challenges over the past two years. The most pressing current issue involves ongoing rodent activity, with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) recently issuing a warning about rodent/insect/garbage conditions in June 2025 and multiple bait applications recorded throughout 2024-2025. The building has faced significant heating system problems, particularly evident in late 2023 and early 2024, with multiple emergency heat/hot water complaints filed through the Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) department. Violations were issued in January 2024 regarding inadequate heat and hot water supply in Apartment 306, and locked access to the heating system, though these were subsequently closed.

The building's safety systems have also come under scrutiny, with several open violations as of November 2023 related to smoke detector maintenance, carbon monoxide detector requirements, and the need for proper signage regarding housing information and emergency contact details. While there have been past concerns about bathroom compliance (2019-2020), these appear to have been resolved. The property has maintained an active bedbug management record, with no reported infestations in the past four years, and has generally complied with routine inspections. Notable inspections in 2024 revealed recurring rat activity, despite some "passed" inspection results.

The building has also incurred various Department of Buildings (DOB) violations, including recent failures to submit required technical reports and compliance documentation, though many historical violations related to plumbing, elevator maintenance, and construction work have been dismissed or resolved. Recent maintenance actions include multiple permit issuances for elevator and plumbing work between 2018-2020, suggesting ongoing efforts to address building systems. The property's location in Harlem shows it has generally followed mandatory bedbug reporting requirements, maintaining records of zero infestations for the past three years. However, the combination of unresolved heating system issues, rodent activity, and safety system violations suggests ongoing challenges with building maintenance and resident comfort, despite significant permit activity indicating infrastructure investment.