51 East 97th Street, Manhattan, NY 10029

51 East 97th Street is a 6-story, 38-unit New Law tenement building in East Harlem, constructed in 1920 and currently owned by Glen Dawson. The building has experienced several maintenance issues over the past few years, with the most notable problems occurring in 2019 when multiple violations were documented in Apartment 4E, including floor and plaster damage, ceiling and wall issues, and moisture-related concerns including mold (which was categorized as Class C). Additionally, 2021 brought attention to exterior maintenance needs, with violations related to the building's facade including a damaged cornice and water table issues, resulting in active penalties totaling $2,500.

More recent concerns include active violations for "swarm conditions" and an "unsafe report" from February 2024. The building's maintenance history shows a mixed record of compliance and ongoing challenges. While there have been periodic inspections that passed (most recently in May 2025), there have also been recurring pest-related issues, as evidenced by multiple bait applications in 2023 and active rodent control measures.

The property has maintained a relatively clean bedbug record since 2020, with no reported infestations in recent years. Recent housing maintenance inspections from 2024-2025 have shown some improvements, with the most recent rodent inspections consistently passing. The property has also shown attention to building code requirements, with records of permit issuances in 2019 for unspecified work. While the building has experienced various maintenance challenges, recent inspection results suggest some progress in addressing these issues, though there remain active violations that require resolution.